Psycho-Oncology

Psychiatric management strategies in bladder cancer: recommendations to urologists

  • M. Ayşin Noyan

Bull Urooncol 2012;11(4):305-310

The diagnosis of cancer can be an extremely stressful experience and accompanied by physical and psychological semptomatology. In many cancer patients, psychiatric disorders can be seen as a reaction to disease diagnosis or cancer treatments. Studies have been researched the prevalence of psychiatric illnesses reported rates ranging from 9 % to 60% in cancer patients. The most often psychiatric disorders are psychological adaptations, anxiety, anxiety disorders, depression and delirium. Anxiety may exist both diagnostic testing and while awaiting test results and preoperative time. Depression is common in cancer patients but the diagnosis and treatment remains undetectable and untreated. The importance depression and depressive symptomatology in cancer lies depression has been associated with increased impairment of immune response and poor survival rate.

Bladder cancer and uriner diversions can have a significant effect on the quality of life of both patients with cancer and family members. There is a growing evidence been consist of changes to sexuality, sexuel functions, body image in patients with bladder cancer and uriner diversions whereas the research on anxiety and depression after cancer diagnosis and during treatment time are neglected in this population. This paper has been reviewed psychological reactions and psychiatric disorders in cancer patients, and suggested the proposals the doctors working with the bladder cancer patients for comprehensive point of view.

Keywords: cancer, bladder cancer, psychiatry, mental status