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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
Personality disorders in the oncology setting
1Department of Pscychiatry, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Psychosocial Oncology Program, Boston, MA 02115, USA. flmeyer@partners.org
Abstract:
This paper reviews differential diagnosis of the difficult oncology patient, focusing on how the patient, the physician, the patient-physician relationship, and the cancer setting may all contribute to clinicians' experiences of difficulty. Because many difficult patients have personality disorders, we then review assessment and treatment of the personality disorders that tend to be most problematic in the cancer setting, suggesting a team-based approach for management.
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