The Modern Practice of Psycho-Oncology: Emerging Challenges and Future Directions looks at cancer care from a perspective that is sometimes overlooked: the person living through the experience.

Cancer treatment has changed enormously. We now have better ways of detecting cancer, more precise treatments, advances in genomics and immunotherapy, digital health, artificial intelligence, and growing knowledge about survivorship. These developments offer real hope. But even as medicine becomes more sophisticated, people with cancer continue to face fear, uncertainty, changes in identity, relationship difficulties, financial pressures, stigma, grief, and many other challenges that cannot be treated with medicine alone.

This is where psycho-oncology becomes so important.

This book explores how psychological and psychosocial care can become a more meaningful part of modern cancer care. It looks at the changing needs of patients and survivors, the experiences of caregivers and families, the influence of culture and social circumstances, and the challenges faced by people who may have limited access to psychosocial support.

It also looks ahead.

The book considers how developments such as precision medicine, genomics, digital health, artificial intelligence, and personalised care are changing the field of psycho-oncology. At the same time, it asks important questions about what we might gain from these developments and what we must be careful not to lose, particularly the human connection at the heart of caring.

Across its chapters, the book brings together issues relating to patients, survivors, caregivers, special populations, emerging interventions, professional practice, research, policy, technology, and the future of psycho-oncology.

It is written for students, researchers, psychologists, counsellors, oncologists, nurses, healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, advocates, and anyone interested in understanding the wider human experience of cancer.

Above all, this book is built around a simple idea:

Cancer care should care for the whole person, not only the disease.

A Book With a Larger Purpose

There is also a personal reason behind this book.

I believe that knowledge should eventually find its way into people’s lives. Good research and professional practice matter, but so does building systems and spaces where people affected by cancer and other noncommunicable diseases can actually find support.

One of my long-term goals is to establish the Elliason Cancer and NCD Foundation, with a vision of supporting individuals and families affected by cancer and other noncommunicable diseases through psychosocial care, education, awareness, research, advocacy, mentorship, and community-based initiatives.

Building such an initiative will take time, resources, partnerships, and the support of people who believe in the vision.

This book is one small step toward that goal.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will contribute toward the development of the Foundation and its future work.

So, when you purchase this book, you are not only investing in your own learning or professional development. You are also helping support a longer-term vision for more compassionate and person-centred cancer and NCD care.

The book begins with knowledge, but the hope is that its impact will go much further than its pages.