Psychosocial care for childhood and adolescent cancer patients

Scientific findings and clinical experience have shown that psychosocial care for childhood and adolescent cancer patients needs to integrate the whole family. While the clinical view focusses on the burden of illness and dysfunctional behaviour, it is important to be aware of the individual resources of patient and family, in view of the influence on the process of coping. Following some general aspects of psycho-oncology and a short discussion or psychosocial research, this article describes the main subjects of diagnostic assessment, the psychosocial situation of the patient and his or her family, the factors influencing the process of adaptation in a favourable or unfavourable way, as well as resulting intervention strategies. A summary will describe the medical and psychosocial demands, according to the phases of disease and treatment, and the types of intervention, that have been proved helpful to the child and his or her family.