Pediatric oncology: a review of the changing psychological aspects

This paper outlines the psychological concerns in pediatric oncology. Taking an historical perspective, early concerns pertained to issues of death and dying and what to tell the child about his diagnosis. With the marked improvement in the early diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer, the psychological issues have changed considerably. There is ample evidence to indicate that psychological problems in the child and his family result from the turmoil from these diseases. However, current concerns may focus on problems of living rather than problems of dying. The child and his family being encouraged to live as normal a life as possible, may need assistance from the professional community in the attempt to achieve this status. This presents an ever increasing need for the health care professional to interface with not only the child and his family, but also with the school and community at large so that the child and his family alone do not shoulder the burden of the normalization process and so that the school and community may be in a better position to assist in the reintegration process.