Professional information, education and counselling as prerequisites for quality cancer care.

The importance of psychosocial factors in the cancer journey for both patients and their careers has been recognized, yet, there is still a great gap between the theory and the practice. The majority of cancer patients express universal need and stress the importance of having good relationships with health-care professionals and receiving good-quality information. There is still much to do when it comes to informing cancer patients. Many patients do not receive enough information about the prognosis, the alternatives of treatment and the effects of cancer treatment. Most people want information because it has a positive impact on their feelings and attitudes and it helps them to cope with their situation. Health-care professionals must target interventions toward the greatest needs. Interventions must be developed and evaluated to assist patients and their families in dealing with the increased stress they experience as they progress the illness trajectory. By recognizing the importance of social support to patients with cancer and by helping patients maintain this support, health-care professionals, especially nurses, can be the best facilitators in helping them to understand that they are not alone in fighting their disease. Health-care professionals must target interventions toward the greatest needs. Interventions must be developed and evaluated to assist patients and their families in dealing with the increased stress they experience as they progress the illness trajectory.