History and Current Status of Psycho-Oncology / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

Cancer statistics shows a high risk and increasing incidence of cancer among Koreans. Considerable burdens related to cancer and its treatment causes significant psychosocial distress among cancer patients and their family. Due to early detection and progress in cancer treatments, cancer is becoming a chronic illness and the quality of life and long-term impact of cancer is receiving increasing attention. Psycho-oncology is a subspecialty of oncology that addresses a psychosocial dimension of cancer throughout 'the continuum of cancer care', viz. from prevention and early detection to palliative and end-of-life care. This paper reviews the development of psycho-oncology and its current status in international and national context so as to promote efforts toward an integrative cancer care in Korea.