Ingalls Cancer Expert Speaks About Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Survivors

(April, 2008) People who have fought cancer and won often assume they’ll pick up right where they left off, but life after cancer isn’t always that simple.

Psychosocial issues such as stress and depression often arise following diagnosis and treatment for cancer and must be addressed by care providers, says Mark Kozloff, M.D., medical director of the cancer program for Ingalls Health System in Tinley Park and Harvey. Dr. Kozloff recently addressed cancer clinicians and specialists at a seminar entitled, “Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Cancer Patients,” at The Cancer Support Center in Mokena.

“More than 10 million Americans today are living with a current or past diagnosis of cancer,” Dr. Kozloff explains. “And while advances in biomedical care have greatly extended life expectancy for individuals with cancer, providing high-quality care for the psychological and social effects of cancer needs much greater attention.”

To address this issue, in 2007 the American Institute of Medicine formed a committee to study the diverse psychosocial services needed by community-dwelling cancer patients and their families.

The committee reported that both cancer survivors and their caregivers said care providers failed to understand their psychosocial needs, or recognize and adequately address depression and other symptoms of stress.

“Living with a diagnosis of cancer can create a great deal of emotional stress,” Dr. Kozloff said. “Treatment, the fear of a relapse, and the physical distress often associated with a cancer diagnosis can create new or exacerbate existing distress.”

What’s more, physical and psychological impairments can lead to significant social problems.

“Addressing the psychosocial health needs of the cancer patient must be an integral part of overall cancer care, and the committee has made recommendations to that end,” Dr. Kozloff added.

According to their recommendations, all cancer care should:
Facilitate effective communication between patients and care providers.
Identify each patient’s psychosocial health needs.
Design and implement a plan that:
Links the patient with needed psychosocial services.
Coordinates biomedical and psychosocial care.
Engages and supports patients in managing their illness and health.
Systematically reevaluates and adjusts plans.

And although cancer patients might receive care from a variety of healthcare practitioners, the committee believes that all clinicians should address psychosocial health needs as part of their practice. Oncologists can and should lead the way in addressing these needs.

“In the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago, we at Ingalls are fortunate to collaborate with The Cancer Support Center in Homewood and Mokena to offer a full range of support, counseling and educational services to help cancer patients and their loved ones cope with the emotional, psychological and social effects of cancer,” he said.

Ingalls has long been a supporter of the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center in Homewood and actively collaborated with the center to open a second location in Mokena.

“Thousands of Ingalls cancer patients have benefited from the services of The Cancer Support Center in Homewood over the last 14 years, and we’re pleased to help the center in its mission to reach out to even more cancer patients and their loved ones through the satellite location in Mokena,” Dr. Kozloff added.

At both locations, cancer patients and their loved ones can choose from a variety of professionally designed programs, including a resource library; cancer prevention, screenings and education; individual and family counseling and guidance; exercise and wellness programs; stress management; expressive arts; nutrition classes; social events; support groups; and grief support. Screenings and educational programs are made possible by the Richard K. Desser, M.D., Fund and are presented by experts from Ingalls and The Cancer Support Center.

“Only those who have been diagnosed with cancer and undergone its treatments can truly understand the physical and emotional impact that cancer has on every aspect of their life,” Dr. Kozloff added, “but we as caregivers must make every effort to give them the support and the resources necessary to address all of their needs, physical, emotional and social.”

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