Basic information for identifying psychological disorders caused by malignant disease

Improvements in cancer dia-gnosis and treatment explain a substantial increase in the number of patients chronically affected by or recovering from cancer. This is a fragile population, physically, psychologically and socially affected by the consequences of the disease and the associated treatment. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) reacted to this fact, creating the NCCN guidelines for survivorship. They provide screening, evaluation and treatment recommendations for the consequences of cancer and cancer treatment.

Inspired by this NCCN recommendation, we drew up this article pointing out the psychological issues like anxiety, depression and fatigue in order to help the physicians refer their patients timely to psychologic or psychiatric care.