1. Psycho-oncology
A physician’s guide

2. What is psycho-oncology?
Psycho-oncology, a growing area of oncology:
Focuses on the psychological, social and emotional impact of cancer on patients and caregivers, and on health behavior
Addresses psychological issues affecting patient and caregiver quality of life (QoL)
Empowers patients to take a positive and active role in their cancer care, and empowers individuals to reduce their risk of cancer
Helps patients and families adjust to a difficult disease and its processes

3. Why is psycho-oncology important to your lung cancer patient?
Emotional and psychological support during cancer diagnosis and treatment may:
Significantly improve QoL
Increase patients’ ability to manage their treatment
Reduce related stress and anxiety
Give patients a greater sense of control
Inform patients about what they are likely to experience

4. Why is psycho-oncology important to your lung cancer patient?
Psychological morbidity among lung cancer patients is high
Emotional distress and depression are problems in their own right and make it harder for patients to cope with treatment
Emotional distress is often increased by guilt associated with smoking

5. Introducing INSPIRE
Roche has partnered with the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) to create INSPIRE, a unique global initiative to:
Help lung cancer patients improve their QoL
Provide patients and caregivers with an INSPIRE resource kit

6. What is the INSPIRE resource kit?
Two short booklets, one for lung cancer patients and one for caregivers
The booklets are divided into two sections:
Managing feelings caused by a cancer diagnosis
Understanding and coping with treatment
Additional content includes:
Self help tips and strategies
How to improve overall well being
General lung cancer information

7. What are additional resources?
Options can include referrals to:
Family physicians
Palliative care teams
Counselors
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Social workers
Lung cancer specialist nurses
Websites
Books
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8. About IPOS
Founded in 1984 to foster international multidisciplinary communication about the psychological impact of cancer
Dedicated to improving the care of cancer patients and their families throughout the world
Looks at the psychological, social and behavioral factors that influence cancer risk and survival
Open for membership to individuals including:
Physicians
Nurses
Psychologists
Social workers
IPOS Multilingual Core Curriculum in Psycho-Oncology is available at
For more information about IPOS membership and other programs, please visit