Cancer and psychology

Cancer is a serious and complex sickness and has an evolution which the prognosis depends on the presentation stage causing a great physical, psychological and social impact in the people that suffer it, in his/her family, social environment and in the health team that assists them. Among the factors that affect the evolution and quality of the patients' life with cancer they are those that depend on the same illness, the treatments and the forecast. The psychological sequels more reported in the literature are symptoms of anxiety, depression, adaptation dysfunctions and delirium. Based in this, psychology has contributed with a subspecialty within the psychology of health: Psycho-oncology, that under takes charge the study of the bio-psycho-social factors affect the cancer morbidity and mortality, and the emotional reactions of the patients, family and professionals.