Cancer medicine in a state of flux - Where does psycho-oncology stand? New challenges for cancer patients and treating physicians

Despite significantly improved supportive measures, oncological treatment is still exhausting and is accompanied by organ loss, disability and functional limitations. In the longer term those affected have to cope with the loss of important life commodities and after the end of treatment to live under the much-cited "sword of Damocles". Around one third of all people diagnosed with cancer develop a mental disorder at some point during the course of the illness that requires treatment and pronounced stress reactions occur at key points over the course of treatment. Both mental disorders and subsyndromic distress can be successfully treated with psychotherapeutic and psycho-oncological interventions. Therefore, every cancer patient should be informed about the availability and potential benefit of psycho-oncological support after the diagnosis or in the further course of treatment.