How to define psycho-oncology

Psycho-oncology is a relatively young discipline that began in the mid-1970s when, in the United States, cancer patients were no longer kept in the dark about their disease, patients could be informed of their cancer diagnosis, and the federal government established informed consent guidelines. Psycho-oncology a discipline at the intersection of sociology, psychology and oncology, focuses on two main areas: The psychological responses of cancer patients and their families. Psychological, social and behavioral factors related to cancer etiology and survival. Psycho-oncology treats the cancer patient as a complete living individual (person) rather than just as a tumor (object), therefore, it can achieve the following purposes. 1. Comprehensive care for cancer patients, such as attention to their body, emotions, society and soul. 2. Patients and families are considered as a whole, and families and treatment teams must give emotional support to patients. 3.Protect and restore all the patient’s functions as much as possible and maintain the patient’s dignity and autonomy.