[Suffering and suicide in tumor patients]

Epidemiological studies demonstrate that cancer patients are at increased risk for suicide. Vulnerability to suicide in cancer patients is influenced by a number of factors, including psychosocial and psychosomatic effects of advanced illness, pain, organic mental syndromes and pre-existing psychopathology. Ways of influencing these risk factors are discussed, together with their use in preventive care and management of suicidal cancer patients.