Abstract
In this article, the authors examine the role of the family counselor in working with cancer patients and their families. Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, nutrition, and coping styles are increasingly linked causally to the development of cancer. The authors suggest ways in which the family counselor can work proactively with families in the area of cancer prevention. Because new cancer treatment protocols are reducing treatment side effects and increasing length of life after diagnosis, family counselors can also be effective in helping families to view cancer as a chronic disease and to cope more effectively with its impact on their lives. A clinical case example is used to illustrate intervention with cancer patients and their families.
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