[Psychooncology-part of a comprehensive oncological treatment]. / Psychoonkologie ­ Bestandteil einer umfassenden onkologischen Behandlung.

This article provides a short overview of current issues in psychooncological care. Psychooncology, a relatively new interdisciplinary field, is meanwhile well estabilished as cancer diseases can lead to numerous psychological challenges and changes throughout the different stages of the disease. A significant proportion of cancer patients suffer during diagnosis and treatment from emotional distress. Main focus of psychological interventions is coping with fear, grief, pain, fatigue and how to improve quality of life under these circumstances. Psychological support has proven efficacious for helping patients as well as their families.