Cancer and Psyche: Everything about Psycho-Oncology - Cancer usually represents a great burden for those affected and their social environment, and also puts long-term relationships to the test. Cancer and the psyche are closely linked, as fears and insecurities often lead to personality changes when cancer is diagnosed. For many people with cancer and their relatives, it can therefore be useful to seek professional therapeutic help from a psycho-oncologist in order to cope better with the situation. We have summarised here what psycho-oncology can do, who is entitled to advice and how to find a suitable therapist.
What is psycho-oncology?
Psycho-oncology is a sub-discipline of oncology and deals with the mental and physical, but also social, effects that cancer can bring with it. Because cancer is not only a physical burden, but can also lead to psychological problems such as depression or anxiety.
As a form of psychotherapy, psycho-oncology therefore aims to support cancer patients and their relatives in dealing with the disease psychologically. It is about enabling those affected to regain a better quality of life.
Finding contact points: Be careful with psycho-oncology training
In principle, all cancer patients are entitled to psycho-oncological care. Anyone who feels the need for professional support should not shy away from seeking this help. But how do you find a counseling center? Patients can proactively speak to their doctor about psycho-oncological therapy options and ask for specific recommendations.
In general, all 16 state cancer societies, which include numerous psychosocial cancer counseling centers, offer free support, often by telephone or video consultation.
Alternatively, websites such as the list of regional doctor information services of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians or the doctor search of the Cancer Information Service can also help with research.Such directories can be very helpful in finding a qualified and suitable contact person. There is currently no recognized psycho-oncology training!
In general, psycho-oncology is not a protected professional title. Sometimes it is trained doctors or psychologists who carry out this type of therapy, but social workers or pastoral carers can also offer psycho-oncological care. What you can look out for when searching, however, is participation in the so-called “Further training in psychosocial oncology” (WPO).
It was developed by the Working Group for Psycho-Oncology in the German Cancer Society (PSO) and the German Working Group for Psychosocial Oncology (dapo), two professional associations for psycho-oncology, in this list from the Cancer Information Service you will find psycho-oncological therapists who have taken part in the training.
Psycho-oncology for relatives
If a loved one falls ill with cancer, this can also have an impact on the psyche of relatives. Since relatives can also develop depression or depressive moods as a result of cancer, psycho-oncology is aimed at them too, and not just at cancer patients.
The disease is also a great burden for relatives, for example because they worry about those affected and the course of cancer therapy, or because the new everyday life, which is often accompanied by a change in the distribution of tasks, is a major challenge for them.
Studies have shown that around a third of all relatives need psychological help to deal with the situation. For many of them, it is an enormous relief to be able to talk about their own negative feelings, fears and worries, which they often keep to themselves when talking to those affected so as not to be an additional burden.
Coverage of costs for psycho-oncological treatment?
If psychological treatment is carried out during a hospital stay or rehabilitation, the health insurance company will cover the costs incurred. Care in psychosocial cancer counseling centers is often free for you as a cancer patient.
Whether this also applies to additional offers such as relaxation courses must be clarified with the respective provider, there may also be the possibility of a subsidy from the statutory health insurance company.
Those affected who require long-term psycho-oncological care outside of inpatient treatment should turn to outpatient therapists. The costs for this are usually covered by statutory health insurance, provided the therapist is approved by the health insurance company and uses recognized therapy methods.
These include methods such as behavioral or analytical psychotherapy as well as depth psychology. In exceptional cases, however, treatment by therapists without health insurance approval is also paid for if the other practices no longer have any free therapy places.
What is the therapy about and what can it achieve?
How does psycho-oncological care work? There is no general answer to this question. The course of therapy depends on the individual needs, the course of the disease and the symptoms of the patient. In general, individual and group therapies are possible, here everyone can decide for themselves in which setting they feel most comfortable.
The range of services provided by psycho-oncology is broad: whether dealing with the diagnosis or treatment, aftercare or conflicts in the relationship, therapy offers space for all topics that concern those affected or their relatives.
How important do I attach to my illness? To what extent does my illness affect my life? Psycho-oncology often focuses on the subjective perception of patients. Many experience changes in their body or self-image, feel fear of death, social isolation or a loss of control. All of these topics can be discussed as part of therapy to help patients improve their quality of life. Another central topic is coping with and coping with the illness.
Many people with active or recovered cancer suffer from a constant fear of cancer or that it could return. Dealing with this worry is also an important part of psycho-oncology. As part of the treatment, patients are prepared for possible crisis situations in order to be able to deal better with stressful moments, such as if the cancer actually does return or spreads further.
For patients who suffer from tumor-related fatigue, for example, therapy is about reflecting on behavioral patterns and gradually adapting them. The aim is to try out new strategies and thus make everyday life easier. Accordingly, the process of professional reintegration can also be accompanied therapeutically.
Overall, patients should have realistic expectations of the therapy and not expect a cure from it. Psychotherapeutic treatment can neither contribute to recovery nor influence the tumor disease. Nevertheless, the effect should not be underestimated: Psycho-oncology can make a significant contribution to better dealing with the disease as well as psychological or social problems.
0 comments:
Post a Comment