Onkologie 2022: 16(Suppl.B): 103-110 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2022.059

Social and psychological effects on disease course

prof. MUDr. Zdeněk Adam, CSc.¹, PhDr. Mgr. Jeroným Klimeš, Ph.D.², doc. MUDr. Zdeněk Boleloucký, CSc.³

¹ Interní hematologická a onkologická klinika, LF MU a FN Brno

² Soukromá psychologická ambulance, Praha

³ Psychiatrická klinika, LF MU a FN Brno

The diagnosis of a malignant disease fundamentally changes the identity of the patient, turning a healthy person into a sick one. Numerous studies have aimed to analyse how an individual’s future destiny is influenced by whether they live alone or in a firmly established cohabitation relationship or in a marriage. Most analyses dealing with this issue concluded that living in a couple relationship was a positive prognostic factor. On the other hand, developing a malignant disease at a young age increases the risk of couple breakup.

It is also stress that the patient is exposed to during treatment that has a negative impact on the course of the disease. Some stressors cannot be modified, but may even include the unempathetic behaviour of doctors.

The current medical literature predominantly deals with prognostic features at the molecular biology level, and it can sometimes appear to neglect prognostic social and psychological factors that also significantly affect treatment outcomes.

Keywords: social factors affecting survival, effect of stress on malignant disease, empathy of doctors.

Accepted: October 4, 2022; Published: October 14, 2022  Show citation