Psychological aspects of critically ILL cancer

Abstract

To be diagnosed as a critically ill cancer patient is likely to cause some challenges, for both the patients and their caregivers. The primary purpose of this chapter is to identify the main psychological issues related to critically ill cancer patients and what they are likely to do after the diagnosis of their medical condition. Cancer diagnosis may result in distress, depression and anxiety resulting in extended periods of their illness. Age, gender and primary cancer site play a crucial role in anxiety and depression level. After diagnosis, patients are more likely to have emotional distress experience and also taking control stage including seeking further information and finding appropriate help. Psychological and emotional vulnerability are affected by the timing of when their medical condition is diagnosed, medication endpoints and recurrence episodes. Should a patient receive an improved cancer pain management, it can help the patient not just for biomedical reasons but also manage their psychosocial and spiritual distress levels. As for possible protective factors against distress of critically ill cancer patients, optimism and social support are suggested to increase their quality of life. Coping styles after surgery have links to psychosocial adjustment of patients. In addition to this, higher resilience amongst cancer patients, in particular, leads them to having lower psychological distress and being more physically active. It is also thought that this may also lead to them being more resilient and also potentially a more effective psychological symptom management.