Newsletter

[ Vol. 12 No. 1 ] (January - April 2011 )
Psychological aspects of patient with malignancy

Josef Hartono
Intensive Care Unit, Central Army Gatot Soebroto Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia

Sometimes practitioners forget that for human beings the mind provides a better chance of achieving ‘quality of life’ compared to the usual functioning organs in the body.

Those, who get Cancer, the disease has a lasting impact on them, friends, and loved ones. Everyone needs support to cope with the physical and emotional changes. They have to learn how to keep their self-esteem, where to find help, and what they can do to deal with the side effects of treatment and long-term physical changes.

We may achieve success in treating patients with cancer but may fail in others despite the same case and treatment. Symptoms and signs from cancer and side effect from treatment can vary depending on cancer and type of treatment they receive. Fatigue, pain, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and other side effects have to be expected before treatment begins and communicating these to patients will teach them what to expect and how to cope with the side effects. And to be prepared if there is cancer develops again after the first treatment. Choosing the appropriate nutrition may help in reducing these side effects.

Here we have to remember that all practitioners must treat patients as holistically, not only the organ or the physical state of the body but important to include their mind.

From   
PENSA 2009
“Energizing Nutrition Support Practice for Life”
June 5-7 2009, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
Page: 37