Intro; Preface; Contents; Chapter 1: The History of Psycho-Oncology; Introduction; Reasons for the Delay in the Development of Psycho-Oncology; Development of Psycho-Oncology; The Scientific Track of Development; Clinical Application; Organizational Development; Some Concluding Notes; References; Chapter 2: The Special Characteristics of Oncology and Psycho-Oncology; What Do Patients Know in General About Cancer?; What Does Research Tell Us About the Psychological State of Cancer Patients?; What About Psycho-Oncology?; References; Chapter 3: The Phases of the Confrontation with Cancer

Phase 1: Getting Tested for CancerPhase 2: Getting Treated for Cancer; Phase 3: Remission and Survivorship; Phase 4: Disease Recurrence; Phase 5: Palliative Care and Confronting Dying; References; Chapter 4: Determinants, Risk Factors, and Protective Factors for Cancer: Environmental, Physiological, and Demographic; General Interest in Determinants of Cancers; Causes, Etiology, and Risk Factors; Risk Factors for Cancers; Environmental Risk Factors; Physiological Risk Factors; Demographic Factors; Afterthoughts About Protective Factors; Summing Up and Some Conclusions; References

Chapter 5: Psychosocial Risk Factors for CancerPsychosocial Risk Factors for Cancer: What Is the Problem?; Emotional Variables; Anti-emotionality; Depression; Anxiety and Anger; Stress; Life Events and Traumas; Personality; Personality Traits; Beliefs, Attitudes, and Meanings; The Cognitive Orientation Approach: The Motivational Disposition; Themes of the Cognitive Orientation of Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancers; General Conclusions About the Cognitive Orientation of Cancer Diseases; Is There a Cancer-Prone Personality?; References; Chapter 6: The Impact of Cancer

Emotional Impact of CancerThe Cognitive Impact; Impact on Beliefs and Worldview; Sense of Self; The Social Impact; Impact on Behavior; Physiological Impact; The Impact on Body Image; A Final Note About the Gap Between the View from Inside and Outside; References; Chapter 7: Major Decision in the Life of Cancer Patients; Involvement of Patients in Decisions; Decisions Regarding Medical Issues; The Problem of Patient Participation; Decisions About Medical Issues in Which Patients May Be Called upon to Participate; Further Decisional Issues of Medical Relevance; The Effects of Shared Decisions

Decisional ConflictsFactors Which Affect the Patient's Decisions; The Difficulties of Shared Decisions: For Patient and for Doctor; Decisions Regarding Nonmedical or Personal Issues; Decisions Relating to Interpersonal Issues; Decisions Relating to Personal Issues; References; Chapter 8: Treatments and Interventions in Cancer; Three Kinds of Treatments; The Medical Treatments; The Kinds of Medical Treatments; Attitudes Toward the Medical Treatments; Determinants of the Patients' Attitudes Toward Treatments; Complementary and Alternative Treatments; Kinds of Complementary and Alternative Treatments