Atuação psicológica na assistência à criança com câncer: da prevenção aos cuidados paliativos

Abstract

Cancer is considered a public health problem. In childhood, has a high incidence and mortality. However, the cure increases with early diagnosis and appropriate treatments, performed by a multidisciplinary team. The psychologist is part of this team and the palliative care team, form of care offered to patients who do not have answers to curative treatments. The purpose of this paper is to review the role of the psychologist to help the child with cancer at all stages: from prevention to palliative care. This is a literature search based on: scientific articles bases Scielo Brazil and Virtual Health Library, books that depict the theme: Childhood Cancer, Psycho-Oncology, Palliative Care, and Death; bailout legislation. The research analysis allowed us to consider that there are many articles on childhood cancer, health psychology, palliative care, death and mourning but few on psycho-oncology and pediatric psychologist practicing in palliative care. The practice of psychologists in the context of childhood cancer is focused on support, counseling and rehabilitation, can be done at individual or group through qualified listening, answering questions, mediating between patient, family and staff. The psychologist can work in all phases of childhood cancer, therefore, become necessary more studies and publications in psychology.