Psychosocial aspects of pediatric oncology - Shulamith Kreitler

Approximately one in every 350 children will develop cancer by adulthood, and despite the remarkable cure rate cancer is still the leading cause of death in children after the neonatal period.

Pediatric oncology is one of the greatest medical success stories of the last four decades. The cure rate of childhood cancer has increased from about 25% in the 1960s to more than 75% in the early 21^st century. Despite this remarkable progress, children and adolsescents still have to struggle with the concept that they are gravely ill, they have to tolerate the acute and late toxicities of treatment, face problems with their friends, schooling and family and sometimes confront dying.

Although the child is the one with the cancer, the carers interact intensively with the siblings, parents, grandparents, friends, schoolteachers and others. Treating a child with cancer becomes a family and a community affair.

This book is a comprehensive text on the all–important psychosocial aspects of cancer in children. Edited by an experienced psycho–oncologist and an equally experienced pediatric oncologist, the book brings together an international group of contributors composed of pediatric oncologists and psychologists/psycho–oncologists. This unique balance of contributors gives the book a focus on the real–life practical aspects of children undergoing treatment for cancer. The book will help health care professionals who look after children and adolescents with cancer, in dealing with the difficult and complex problems that face the child, his siblings and his parents. It deals with critical issues such as the neuropsychological impact of treatment, (including bone marrow transplantation), pain, quality of life in survivors, palliative care, talking to children and their families about death, and providing support to the dying.

An important part of the book provides tools for evaluation and methods of psychological intervention. It is thus a very practical work for psycho–oncologists, pediatric oncologists, pediatricians, psychologists, nurses, social workers and art therapists dealing with the problems that children with cancer have to confront.

• The only recent comprehensive book on the clinical approach to psychosocial problems of children with cancer
• Includes evaluation tools and psychological intervention techniques
• Contributions from both pediatric oncologists and psycho–oncologists, highlight the team approach to the treatment of childhood cancers.

Readership: Pediatric oncologists, psycho–oncologists, child psychiatrists, pediatricians, nurses, child psychologists, health psychologists, pediatric psychologists, art therapists, and social workers.