THE PSYCHONCOLOGIST is a necessary figure for most patients, yet he is present in very few realities. To report it is Gabriella Pravettoni, director of Psychoncology at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, spoke today during the online webinar ‘Multidisciplinarity in regional oncological networks’, organized by the Professional Association of Oncological Aesthetics (APEO). “When the patient experiences the shock of the diagnosis he needs support, because his psyche is devastated: he suddenly finds himself without projects, he has to rebuild a new life, with the need to rethink his own path in its entirety”, he Pravettoni explained: “For this reason the Italian law recognizes the importance of this figure in hospitals. In fact, however, only a few are present every day ”.
For many years now, the importance of accompanying patients in every aspect of their life with the disease, of offering complete support, has been emphasized. Psycho-oncology is part of this vision, as well as nutrition and physiotherapy, as Massimo Bonucci, president of ARTOI (Association for Research on Integrated Oncological Therapies) recalls: “We care a lot about the concept of multidisciplinarity, but the same services are not guaranteed everywhere in Italy “.
Taking care of the effects of therapies on a patient’s skin, nails, hair and overall physical appearance is also important. Today there are more than 500 oncological beauticians trained throughout Italy, who collaborate with hospitals often through voluntary associations. “As Apeo we take care of training the beauticians who will take care of the well-being of patients in the ward”, explains Carolina Redaelli, president of the association: “We accompany them to learn about neoplasms and skin toxicities, in a path that also includes psycho-oncology modules , so that they can become one of the important figures who experience the disease with the patient. A study was carried out at the IEO to demonstrate how this work is crucial in reducing stress and improving the quality of life of patients. We have a course to train beauticians with strict work protocols. We are very attentive to science and carry out updates and conferences “.
“The side effects of the treatments used to combat the disease negatively affect the individual”, reads the letter that Maria Stella Gelmini, Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies, sent to the seminar participants: “To this way of reacting, today we have the opportunity to provide support through the growing collaboration between medical professions and those of aesthetic well-being which, thanks to the progress of research in this area, takes care of the sick. It must certainly be emphasized that this worthy commitment can and must be integrated in the best possible way, in the interest of the patient, with the regional oncological networks ”. “When there is an external direction that coordinates, monitors and directs the actions – concludes Paolo Ursillo, medical director of AGENAS, the National Agency for Regional Health Services – it is possible to obtain better results: greater usability of services and a reduction of patient mobility “.