Experiencing Cancer -

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Résumé :
* What is it like to become diagnosed with cancer?
* What is it like being treated for cancer?
* What can be done to improve quality of life in treatment?

This book takes a detailed look at the experience of treatment for cancer by exploring the accounts of a group of cancer patients. The focus of the book is on the quality of life in treatment, and the ways in which the processes of becoming diagnosed and being treated affect it. Open communication within and good management of the individual patient's treatment calendar are seen to be central to good quality of life in treatment. These issues are discussed in the book with reference to the interview material and located within the literature on psychosocial issues and cancer. 'Treatment' is seen to be a social process, the day-to-day of treatment routines providing both supportive and draining experiences and challenges. Problems and areas for improvement within treatment contexts are dealt with.

Experiencing Cancer will be of use to students of health and social care with an interest in chronic illness, death and dying. It is also of direct relevance to the everyday practice of doctors, nurses, social workers, counsellors and psychologists working with the chronically ill, the dying and their families.

Biographie:
Kirsten Costain Schou obtained her PhD in health psychology from the University of Leeds in 1993. Her interest in chronic illness developed during several years of volunteer work in hospices and palliative care units in Canada and England. She is currently visiting scholar at the Research Centre for Health Promotion in Bergen, Norway.
Jenny Hewison is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Leeds, specializing in the psychology of health and healthcare. She has particular research interests in mother and child health, in genetics and in assessing the effects of healthcare on the quality of life of patients and their families.

Sommaire:
Series editor's preface
Series editor's preface
Introduction
Cancer and the quality of life
Treatment as social interaction
Diagnosis and the early illness calendar
Getting started
preparing for life in the treatment calendar
Being treated
navigating the treatment calendar
Discussion
Appendix.