Cancer

Summary

Overall, research has amply demonstrated that a variety of cognitive-behavioral interventions are effective in reducing specific cancer-related physical (e.g., pain, nausea, and vomiting) and emotional (e.g., depression, anxiety) symptoms, as well as enhancing the overall quality of life of cancer patients. More recently, using the telephone to increase accessibility to such programs has also begun to show promise. In addition to improving cancer patients’ emotional well-being, data exist suggesting that psychosocial interventions can also lead to improved survival by affecting the course of the cancer itself. One biological pathway that has been identified as a potential mechanism by which this can occur is the immune system. However, the literature providing evidence to support a link between behavioral variables and health outcome as mediated by the immune system is only in its infancy with regard to cancer. Therefore, substantial additional research is necessary before the nature of these relationships can be clearly elucidated.

Psychosocial interventions have also been developed for at-risk groups (e.g., first-degree relative of a woman with breast cancer) or people engaging in risky cancer-engendering behaviors (e.g., excessive sun exposure) as a means of reducing risk and preventing cancer.