The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are events that confront the patient, family, physician, and other members of the health care team. Each stage of the illness, from diagnosis to death, is characterized by individual psychosocial tasks and problems. The authors develop specific guidelines that phsycians can use for the psychosocial assessment of and intervention with the cancer patient. The overall goal is to provide the patient with hope balanced with reality of al stages of the disease. Methods are given for assessment and intervention at four specific points in the disease: (1) the initial meeting between patient and physician, (2) the completion of treatment, (3) the time when treatment fails, and (4) the terminal stage. The benefits of psychosocial assessment and intervention for the patient, family, and health care team are discussed.
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