Updates in paediatric psycho-oncology

Abstract

Childhood cancer accounts for less than 2% of all cancers diagnosed each year. About 12–14,000 children will be diagnosed in a given year with any type of cancer. Over the past fifty years, treatments and cure rates have improved from 10–20% five-year survival rates to between 80–85% five-year survival rates. Psychosocial support of children with cancer and their families has grown and has been more fully integrated into paediatric care over the past five decades. Increasing acceptance of the importance of addressing mental health has led to oncologists referring patients to specific resources and services. This paper provides updated information on psychosocial issues for those who treat children and adolescents with cancer and focuses on unique challenges for the paediatric psycho-oncologist. PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched from January 2000 through June 2013 using key words: pediatrics, oncology, psychosocial care, family, siblings, cancer, psycho-oncology, psychosocial issues, depression, anxiety, survivorship, and end of life.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This was supported in part by the Intramural Research program of the NIMH.