I feel the book comprises a very comprehensive overview of supportive care, presented in a clear way and accessible form. It is a book that anyone involved in the care of cancer patients should find relevant and informative and may well want on their own bookshelves in addition to their organisation's library.

• Introduction ; PART 1: HUMAN CONTEXT ; Human nature ; The catastrophe of cancer ; What helps people with cancer? ; Quality of life ; Summary ; References ; PART 2: PERSONAL CONTEXT ; Changed lives ; Expectation about illness ; Shock of diagnosis ; Denial and avoidance ; Delays to diagnosis ; "Why me?" - the meaning of cancer ; Coping with treatment ; Relationship with healthcare team ; Practical concerns ; Relationship with family and friends ; Impact on self ; Hope ; The body ; Existential beliefs ; Ending treatment ; Living with uncertainty ; References ; PART 3: OTHER PEOPLE ; What is social support and why is it important? ; Family context ; Partner relationship ; Caring ; References ; PART 4: SOCIAL CONTEXT ; Background and introduction ; Social class ; Gender ; Homeless people ; Defining 'homelessness' ; Ethnicity ; Defining 'race', 'culture', and 'ethnicity' ; Ethnicity and giving support: communication, advocacy, and interpreters ; An interpreter ; An advocate ; Refugees and asylum seekers ; Conclusion ; References ; PART 5: CLINICAL CONTEXT ; General practice ; Diagnosis ; Surgery ; Radiotherapy ; Chemotherapy and hormone therapy ; Common treatment difficulties ; Rehabilitation ; Recurrence ; Palliative care ; Bereavement care ; References ; PART 6: COMMUNICATION ; Communication and ethics ; Information ; Staff-patient relationship ; Patient-centred communication ; Eliciting concerns ; Specific communication issues ; Professional issues in communication ; References ; PART 7: PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT ; Part 1 ; Stress and burnout in healthcare professionals ; Cancer professionals ; Preventing burnout and reducing stress ; Part 2 ; User-involvement ; Voluntary support ; Complementary therapy and alternative medicine ; References ; APPENDICES ; 1. Common self report questionnaires ; 2. Managing the stress of cancer - a psychosocial guide for people with cancer

I feel the book comprises a very comprehensive overview of supportive care, presented in a clear way and accessible form. It is a book that anyone involved in the care of cancer patients should find relevant and informative and may well want on their own bookshelves in addition to their organisation's library.

• Introduction ; PART 1: HUMAN CONTEXT ; Human nature ; The catastrophe of cancer ; What helps people with cancer? ; Quality of life ; Summary ; References ; PART 2: PERSONAL CONTEXT ; Changed lives ; Expectation about illness ; Shock of diagnosis ; Denial and avoidance ; Delays to diagnosis ; "Why me?" - the meaning of cancer ; Coping with treatment ; Relationship with healthcare team ; Practical concerns ; Relationship with family and friends ; Impact on self ; Hope ; The body ; Existential beliefs ; Ending treatment ; Living with uncertainty ; References ; PART 3: OTHER PEOPLE ; What is social support and why is it important? ; Family context ; Partner relationship ; Caring ; References ; PART 4: SOCIAL CONTEXT ; Background and introduction ; Social class ; Gender ; Homeless people ; Defining 'homelessness' ; Ethnicity ; Defining 'race', 'culture', and 'ethnicity' ; Ethnicity and giving support: communication, advocacy, and interpreters ; An interpreter ; An advocate ; Refugees and asylum seekers ; Conclusion ; References ; PART 5: CLINICAL CONTEXT ; General practice ; Diagnosis ; Surgery ; Radiotherapy ; Chemotherapy and hormone therapy ; Common treatment difficulties ; Rehabilitation ; Recurrence ; Palliative care ; Bereavement care ; References ; PART 6: COMMUNICATION ; Communication and ethics ; Information ; Staff-patient relationship ; Patient-centred communication ; Eliciting concerns ; Specific communication issues ; Professional issues in communication ; References ; PART 7: PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT ; Part 1 ; Stress and burnout in healthcare professionals ; Cancer professionals ; Preventing burnout and reducing stress ; Part 2 ; User-involvement ; Voluntary support ; Complementary therapy and alternative medicine ; References ; APPENDICES ; 1. Common self report questionnaires ; 2. Managing the stress of cancer - a psychosocial guide for people with cancer

I feel the book comprises a very comprehensive overview of supportive care, presented in a clear way and accessible form. It is a book that anyone involved in the care of cancer patients should find relevant and informative and may well want on their own bookshelves in addition to their organisation's library.

• Introduction ; PART 1: HUMAN CONTEXT ; Human nature ; The catastrophe of cancer ; What helps people with cancer? ; Quality of life ; Summary ; References ; PART 2: PERSONAL CONTEXT ; Changed lives ; Expectation about illness ; Shock of diagnosis ; Denial and avoidance ; Delays to diagnosis ; "Why me?" - the meaning of cancer ; Coping with treatment ; Relationship with healthcare team ; Practical concerns ; Relationship with family and friends ; Impact on self ; Hope ; The body ; Existential beliefs ; Ending treatment ; Living with uncertainty ; References ; PART 3: OTHER PEOPLE ; What is social support and why is it important? ; Family context ; Partner relationship ; Caring ; References ; PART 4: SOCIAL CONTEXT ; Background and introduction ; Social class ; Gender ; Homeless people ; Defining 'homelessness' ; Ethnicity ; Defining 'race', 'culture', and 'ethnicity' ; Ethnicity and giving support: communication, advocacy, and interpreters ; An interpreter ; An advocate ; Refugees and asylum seekers ; Conclusion ; References ; PART 5: CLINICAL CONTEXT ; General practice ; Diagnosis ; Surgery ; Radiotherapy ; Chemotherapy and hormone therapy ; Common treatment difficulties ; Rehabilitation ; Recurrence ; Palliative care ; Bereavement care ; References ; PART 6: COMMUNICATION ; Communication and ethics ; Information ; Staff-patient relationship ; Patient-centred communication ; Eliciting concerns ; Specific communication issues ; Professional issues in communication ; References ; PART 7: PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT ; Part 1 ; Stress and burnout in healthcare professionals ; Cancer professionals ; Preventing burnout and reducing stress ; Part 2 ; User-involvement ; Voluntary support ; Complementary therapy and alternative medicine ; References ; APPENDICES ; 1. Common self report questionnaires ; 2. Managing the stress of cancer - a psychosocial guide for people with cancer