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Communication in Cancer Care

Thomas N. Wise, M.D.

Key Words: Cancer Care • Doctor–Patient Relationship

The crisis of cancer brings about a profound existential crisis that is fostered both by subjective emotional pain and objective symptoms and disability. The ability of physicians to communicate effectively with their patients is an essential element not in only modifying such distress, but also allowing patients to maintain autonomy in the face of such adversity. It is for this reason that this volume is essential reading for specialists in psychosomatic medicine as well as oncologists. Professor Stiefel, who directs the consultation–liaison service at Lausanne has carefully edited a volume in the Recent Results in Cancer Research series.

The book is introduced by a chapter on key elements of communication in cancer care that integrates both the patient’s and clinician’s perspectives. A practical approach for problem-oriented coping, as well as emotional coping, helps the reader understand the overview of this clinical challenge. The next chapter, on motivating individuals for behaviors that reduce cancer risk, discusses smoking cessation and exercise programs. Specific chapters on genetic counseling and breast and ovarian cancer elucidate the complexity of the genetic factors in cancer and address the discussion of such issues with both patients and family members. Drs. Stiefel and Razavi’s chapter on discussing diagnosis, relapse, and progression of neoplastic disease, with a focus on the terminally ill patient, is essential reading for all fellows and psychosomatic specialists. The next chapter, on maintaining hope and palliative care, complements the preceding topic and focuses on issues in working with the family, as well as the role of spirituality. The chapter on patients and their families is essential for all physicians who clearly work with a broader social system and not just the patients, themselves. Specialized topics, such as children with cancer and interdisciplinary communication, as well as the cultural aspects of communication, are included. The book closes with two chapters on actual training approaches to communication in cancer care.

The book utilizes excellent tables and charts, and its editing is superb, with clarity and with brevity when appropriate. It includes specialized topics, such as children with cancer and interdisciplinary communication, as well as the cultural aspects of communication. This book should be in all of our libraries, especially for psychosomatic medicine, but also in oncologists’ personal collections. All medical libraries in hospitals of any size should also have such a volume. It will be useful to train both Psychosomatic Medicine specialists as well as oncologists in talking to their patients and families. The book is listed to cost $79.95 but was significantly reduced on the Amazon website. It is a bargain either way.

FOOTNOTES

 
Thomas N. Wise, M.D., is the former editor-in-chief of Psychosomatics.

Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Articles by Wise, T. N. Articles by Wise, T. N. Primary Care Syndromes Secondary to General Medical Disorders

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