Psychology 2036A/B Chapter 7: Chapter 7- Chronic and Life-Threatening Illnesses

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2036A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazelwood

Document Summary

Chronic condition: a condition that doesn"t go away or get better. People may not view their illness in episodic terms can make coping difficult. Acute: an illness with a defined beginning and end (episodic in nature) Oncology: the study and treatment of cancer. Specialize in a particular site where cancer occurs in the body. Sites of cancer: types of cancer as defined by the location of the tumour. Site at which the cancer occurs and the symptoms associated with it are significant factors in determining a person"s psychological reactions to a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer cells grow in an uncontrollable manner and destroy normal cells in the process. When the abnormal cells form a mass, it"s called tumour. Tumours can be localized or may spread to other parts of the body. Metastasized: spread (frequently used to denote the spread of cancer) Hard to treat, since the treatment cannot be localized.