Posttraumatic stress and the experience of cancer: A literature review

In recent years there has emerged a new direction in research into posttrau matic stress that incorporates the acute stress associated with the diagnos is and treatment of cancer. This area of research has important implication s for the future direction of rehabilitative care for cancer patients as it highlights the severe adjustment difficulties experienced by many of those undergoing cancer treatments and in the families who nurture them. There i s an urgent need for intervention strategies designed to identify the vulne rable in these groups and provide them with appropriate rehabilitative coun selling and support. This article is written to demarcate and consolidate t his innovative direction in psyche-oncology and make the relevant literatur e readily available for health and allied health professionals involved in the rehabilitation of post-diagnosis cancer patients.