Psychosocial oncology needs: an absent voice in Romania

Cancer distress, the 6th vital sign is a universal cancer-related experience and a human rights issue. It is a multifaceted reality with the undisputable advantage of ¿reminding us that people with cancer are human beings¿. Cancer, an unregulated form of life, launches attack on the body, but from the very moment the affected person becomes aware of it, the devastating effects of cancer start working in the person¿s psychological and social living as well. Cancer can easily become emotional and charged with prejudices due to guilt, punishment, atonement and the image of death associated with the malignant nature. For some, the cancer experience has a significantly negative impact on mental health and wellbeing as for others it has a positive psychological and social outcome, including survivorship. Upon examining cancer patients¿ emotional distress and quality of life, we set out from the interaction of somatic, psychological and social factors. Levels of neglected psychosocial needs in cancer patients reach an alarming level in Romania. The Romanian public health system can by no means offer qualitative psychosocial care for cancer patients since cancer distress is not assessed.