Book Review: Handbook of Oncology Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People with Cancer

Excerpt

The inaugural Handbook of oncology social work: psychosocial care for people with cancer, edited by Grace Christ, DSW/PhD; Carolyn Messner, DSW; and Lynn Behar, PhD, published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) in February 2015, is not just for social workers, it is a must read for all oncology practitioners. As a nurse, cancer educator, and researcher, I discovered numerous easily accessible psychosocial gems to support holistic care along the cancer continuum, or perhaps more importantly, as a friend, family member, and caregiver of people diagnosed with cancer, there are valuable insights that emerge throughout the handbook from the lens of people living with cancer, their caregivers, and practitioners. According to Carolyn Messner, DSW, one of the three editors and a chapter author, this foundational handbook was written to provide a repository for the breadth and scope of oncology social workers’ clinical practice, education, research, policy, and program leadership in the psychosocial care of people with cancer and their families and has been very well received by people practicing within diverse disciplines. …