The European School of Oncology came into existence to respond to a need for information, education and training in the field of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. There are two main reasons why such an initiative was considered necessary. Firstly, the teaching of oncology requires a rigorously multidiscipli­ nary approach which is difficult for the Universities to put into practice since their system is mainly disciplinary orientated. Secondly, the rate of technological development that impinges on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been so rapid that it is not an easy task for medical faculties to adapt their curricula flexibly. With its residential courses for organ pathologies and the seminars on new techniques (laser, monoclonal antibodies, imaging techniques etc.) or on the prinr.ir~-' ther::!PG~tic c0r'liuversies (conservative or mutilating surgery, primary or adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy alone or integrated), it is the ambition of the European School of Oncology to fill a cultural and scientific gap and, thereby, create a bridge between the University and Industry and between these two and daily medical practice. One of the more recent initiatives of ESO has been the institution of permanent study groups, also called task forces, where a limited number of leading experts are invited to meet once a year with the aim of defining the state of the art and possibly reaching a consensus on future developments in specific fields of on­ cology.

Inhalt

I. Historical Overview.- Psychosocial Issues in Oncology: A Historical Perspective.- II. Patient Care Issues.- Crisis and Coping: Learning to Live with Cancer.- Patient information and Participation.- Patient Information: Practical Guidelines.- Diagnosis and Management of Symptoms from a Psychological Perspective.- Employing Specialist Workers to Detect Psychological and Social Morbidity.- Psychological and Psychiatric Interventions.- III. Psychosocial and Behavioural Factors in Cancer Risk and Survival.- Psychosocial Risk Factors in Cancer.- Behavioural Factors in Cancer Risk and Survival.- IV. Methods of Assessment in Clinical Practice and Research.- Screening for the Need of Psychosocial Intervention.- Quality of Life Assessment in Cancer Clinical Trials.- V. Future Directions for Training and Research.- Informed Consent and Cancer Clinical Research.- Suicide and Euthanasia.- Unorthodox Cancer Treatments.- Psychoneuroimmunological Studies.- Psychological Sequelae in Cancer Survivors.- Screening for Breast Cancer.- Training in Psychosocial Oncology.