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Psycho-Oncology

Psycho-Oncology. Psychosocial and Behavioral Issues in Cancer. Psycho-Oncology. Psychosocial and Behavioral Issues in Cancer I. Intro II. Etiology III. Prevention and Intervention IV. Adjustment to Cancer. What Is Cancer?. Cancer

JasminFlorian
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Psycho-Oncology

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  1. Psycho-Oncology Psychosocial and Behavioral Issues in Cancer

  2. Psycho-Oncology • Psychosocial and Behavioral Issues in Cancer • I. Intro • II. Etiology • III. Prevention and Intervention • IV. Adjustment to Cancer

  3. What Is Cancer? • Cancer • A set of diseases (neoplasms) in which abnormal body cells multiply and spread forming a tumor. • In the U.S., • >1,000,000 new diagnoses each year • 2nd leading cause of death • 1 in 2 men; 1 in 3 women will get cancer

  4. Estimated New Cancer Cases and Deaths What are most common and most deadly cancers?

  5. Increasing incidence • Cancer continues to increase in incidence and prevalence throughout the world • improved methods of diagnosis • more widespread efforts at early detection • people are living longer, giving more years for cancer to develop • increase in cancers stemming from AIDS, exposure to the sun, pesticides, diet, etc..

  6. II. Psychosocial & Behavioral factors in etiology • A. Psychosocial • Personality • Social Support • Depression • not a lot of evidence for psychosocial etiological factor • B. Behavioral • Tobacco • Diet • Toxic exposure (e.g., radiation from sun, toxic chemicals like asbestos, etc.) • Physical activity

  7. Tobacco Use • responsible for 90% of lung cancers • also linked to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, cervix, kidney, and bladder

  8. Risk Factors for Cancer • Diet • a primary factor in one-third of all cancer deaths, (lung, colon, bladder, stomach, rectum, breast cancer) • Reduce saturated fats, particularly animal fats • Increase F’s & V’s (colorful diet! Soy?) • Nurses Health Study: women who consumed 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables were 23% less likely to develop breast cancer

  9. Risk Factors: Physical Activity • Overall physical activity levels negatively correlated with colon cancer in both women and men • Nurses Health Study — Physically active women have lower rates of breast cancer than do sedentary women

  10. III. Psychosocial & Behavioral factors in prevention and intervention • Personality • Avoidant, repressive coping style correlated with poor disease course • Social Support • Assoc w/ longer survival • Group support interventions • Screening techniques • Breast self-exams? • Mammography? • Stress • Animal studies (e.g., crowding, inescapable shock) • Humans?

  11. Stress and possible effects on cancer • Stressful events suppress: • cancer-fighting NK cells, B cells, etc. • the body’s ability to repair DNA errors (during cell division) • Stress may also negatively impact health behaviors and adherence to treatment

  12. Cancer Prevention (using skin cancer as ex.) • Consistent with the health belief model, perceived susceptibility to skin cancer is positively associated with intentions to protect the skin from the sun • Peer influence is a strong factor in sunscreen use, as are image norms for attractiveness and style

  13. IV. Adjusting to cancer • Distress upon diagnosis • Disruption to life… Depends on: • Type and degree of cancer • Side effects of illness and treatment • Personal factors • coping style (e.g., hardiness: challenge, commitment, control) • social support • life-stage • Psychosocial interventions (next slide)

  14. Psychosocial interventions • Stress management, group support: • Andersen & Golden-Kreutz (1997) — women with metastatic breast cancer who were encouraged to discuss their fears showed an 18-month increase in survival • “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m glad I have cancer…” • Specific coping skills • Counterconditioning for nausea • Pain management • Coping with sexual dysfunction (e.g., post-prostatectomy)

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