| Description | Extensive investigation has been devoted to the biological and medical aspects of cancer, its causes and treatment. Yet until now, the roles of lifestyle, psychological, and behavioral factors that influence the development of cancer have not been systematically described. While other books and articles focus only on selected aspects of the impact of behavior on cancer, this new book offers a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the subject. 'Behavior and Cancer' brings together and analyzes a wide range of current information -- some previously unpublished -- on the role of behavior as a direct and indirect modifier of cancer risk. Sandra Levy examines the behavioral factors that affect everything from the likelihood of getting cancer to the effectiveness of treatments for it. She summarizes !
evidence correlating factors such as exposure to sunlight with cancer incidence, describes the biology of malignant tumors, rates the efficacy of various screening technologies, and discusses the implications of factors such as patient compliance for treatment success. Research summaries and references, case studies, and sample dialogues between clinicians and cancer patients all serve to shed new light on the role behavior plays in cancer. Levy draws specific recommendations for all practitioners in psychology, psychiatry, health administration and education, medicine, nursing, and other health support services who want to offer their patients a truly comprehensive system of health care. She gives instruction on effective intervention techniques for discouraging cancer-causing behavior; outlines the role clinicians can play in uncovering occupational carcinogens in their patients' work environments; identifies the high-risk groups for various types of cancer and recommends !
ways to make screening programs more accessible to them; provides guidelines for enhancing patient compliance; shows how stress and other psychological states can affect cancer growth; and uses this information to make recommendations for improved psychotherapeutic technique. |
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