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Forward to a methodological proposal to support cancer patients: the dialogics’ contribution for the precision care

  • Perspectives in Oncology
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Abstract

In scientific context, the first step for scientific theoretical and methodological production is the epistemological analysis. What are assumptions for interaction between oncology and psychology? What are the conditions for psycho-oncological contribution in treating cancer? Furthermore, what are epistemological observations about the current developments in cancer field? And what are implications for sciences treating patients with neoplasms? Due to advances in oncology and in sciences supporting oncology, epistemological questions focus on the object of study of the integration between oncology and psychology. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe a proposal of theoretical and methodological frame suitable for current clinical and research needs in cancer patients asking for psychological support. Epistemological analysis lets the health professionals and researchers observe there are sciences using formal languages and sciences using ordinary language. Currently, personalized approach is pursued by oncology, identifying specific patients’ characteristics to define the proper treatment process: not only tumor characteristics but also behavioral and psychological features. Cancer patients features can be found in patients’ narrations about neoplasms: narration represents the core of clinical and research in psychoncology. Therefore when formalized, language provides the connection between oncology and psychology. Language used by patients and all the roles involved in the care of cancer patients can become a measure of these patients’ features. Dialogics science measuring the ordinary language allows the ordinary language formalization, pursuing a personalized medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Surgical Oncology of the Esophagus and Digestive Tract, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128, Padua, Italy

    Eleonora Pinto & Rita Alfieri

  2. Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    Luisa Orrù, Marta Silvia Dalla Riva & Gian Piero Turchi

Authors
  1. Eleonora Pinto
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  2. Rita Alfieri
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  3. Luisa Orrù
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  4. Marta Silvia Dalla Riva
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  5. Gian Piero Turchi
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Correspondence to Eleonora Pinto.

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Pinto, E., Alfieri, R., Orrù, L. et al. Forward to a methodological proposal to support cancer patients: the dialogics’ contribution for the precision care. Med Oncol 39, 75 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-021-01644-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-021-01644-1

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