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Best Psycho-Oncology Service in India

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OVERVIEWReceiving a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and lead to a flood of emotions, such as anger, anxiety, and helplessness. It's normal to feel this way, but it's important to handle these emotions properly. Sharing your thoughts with loved ones may not always be helpful, and you may feel alone and frustrated. But you're not alone, and we're here to help at HCG through COPER: Centre of Psycho-oncology for Education and Research, where we understand and are sensitive to your emotional needs.

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Psycho-Oncology Services at HCG

Psycho-oncology is a subfield of oncology that addresses the emotional issues and concerns of cancer patients and their families. It involves a team of highly qualified and trained mental health specialists, including psycho-oncologists and psychiatrists, who are empathetic and dedicated to providing support to individuals of all ages battling cancer.

The psycho-oncology team offers a safe and confidential space where patients can express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. These specialists provide guidance and support throughout the cancer journey, helping patients cope with the overwhelming situation.

The psycho-oncology service caters to various psychological and emotional needs of patients, with the help of scientific techniques that are tailored to suit each individual's emotional needs.

Services

Distress assessment and evaluation
Individual therapy
Marital therapy
Family therapy
Stress management techniques (relaxation therapy, guided imagery, etc.)
De-addiction (tobacco cessation, alcohol, and other substance abuse)
End-of-life care
Grief and bereavement counselling
Rehabilitation counselling: breast prosthesis (artificial breast), wigs for hair loss, stoma care, etc.
Brain lab: neurocognitive assessment and remediation

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does cancer bring distress, and what are the causes of these emotional changes?

  • The emotional changes associated with cancer can be caused by various factors, such as:
  • The disease itself, its treatment, and its side effects.
  • Altered roles and situations at home.
  • Myths and misconceptions about the disease and its treatment.
  • Various chemicals released by the tumour, disease, or lesion in specific areas of the brain.
  • Physical or biochemical reasons, such as electrolyte imbalance, infection, fatigue, or poor sleep
  • Drug-induced factors, such as steroids or some chemotherapy agents.
  • Withdrawal of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances.
  • Pre-existing psychological or psychiatric problems.

    • It is important to understand the exact cause of emotional distress and plan timely and appropriate intervention or treatment to restore the individual's emotional well-being.

    At HCG, we have psycho-oncologists and psychiatrists who specialise in cancer care and can guide and support individuals and their families through the cancer journey. They provide a safe and confidential environment to share thoughts, feelings, and emotions and offer tailored interventions and techniques to help cope with the overwhelming situation.

If you're experiencing any of the following during your cancer journey, it's a good idea to seek psycho-oncology services, as these could be a sign that you are distressed:

  • Anxiety
  • Fear of the future
  • Feeling helpless or hopeless
  • Panic attacks
  • Difficulties dealing with symptoms or medical procedures.
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lack of interest in daily life
  • Communication issues
  • Difficulty balancing treatment demands.
  • Altered body image or functioning.
  • Difficulties in decision-making, memory, or concentration
  • Altered family roles and relationships.
  • Feeling short-tempered
  • Difficulty controlling certain thoughts.
  • Crying often
  • Thinking about self-harm
  • Sleep problems
  • Difficulties with sexuality or intimacy.
  • As the leading comprehensive cancer care hospital in India, we have a dedicated psycho-oncology department with a robust team of psycho-oncologists trained to help cancer patients with these common psychological issues and instil hope and confidence in them. For a quick appointment with our psycho-oncologists at HCG, please give us a call or register online.

If you are experiencing emotional or psychological distress related to your cancer diagnosis or treatment, it is recommended that you seek help from a psycho-oncologist. (Please refer to the symptoms discussed in the previous question.)

Even if you feel that you are coping well with the challenges of cancer, it is beneficial to consult with a psycho-oncologist to ensure that you are managing your emotions in a healthy way and receiving the necessary support throughout your cancer journey. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and psycho-oncologists are trained to help you navigate the emotional challenges of cancer and improve your overall quality of life.

Evidence suggests that emotionally distressed patients have compromised immune functions, tolerate treatment poorly, and have poor survival rates. Seeking professional psychological assistance for healthy coping mechanisms and a positive state of mind can improve treatment outcomes, quality of life, and immune functions. Therefore, psychological well-being contributes to improved physical recovery.

Psycho-oncology is not a replacement for family, friends, and medical support, but it complements and augments the emotional or psychological support you require during your cancer journey. Support groups are helpful, but they are not a substitute for professional assistance. Your family and doctors may not be well-equipped to handle the various emotional issues you may be going through. Just as your treating oncologist is a specialist in physical recovery, psycho-oncologists are mental health specialists in cancer care who foster your emotional well-being and help you navigate through this journey.

As discussed in question 1, emotional distress can be caused by various reasons, and therefore, it is important for you to consider psycho-oncology counselling, rather than just depending on your family, friends, and support groups.

Psycho-oncology offers more than just counselling - it involves a range of scientifically proven psychological techniques to restore emotional well-being in cancer patients. Psycho-oncologists are highly trained psychologists and psychiatrists who specialise in cancer care and are an integral part of a multidisciplinary cancer care team. Their expertise helps doctors better understand patients' psychological issues, enabling them to plan appropriate medical interventions.

C.A.R.E.S is our Brain Lab which stands for Cognitive Assessment and Remediation Enabling Strategies. It addresses neurocognitive issues, such as attention, concentration, memory, and learning difficulties caused by the disease, treatment, or emotional factors. After proper assessment, C.A.R.E.S. provides customised remediation, retraining, and rehabilitation services.

Yes, family members also go through emotional distress when their loved one is diagnosed with cancer. The psycho-oncology service offers special sessions for family members, including marital therapy and therapy for children affected by the disease. The therapies are designed to help family members cope with various concerns and issues, such as communication, altered roles, physical intimacy, hospital anxiety, fear of needles, treatment-related distress, etc. These therapies aim to enable family members to resume normal life and functioning.

There is a charge for the service.