Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully: An Evidence-Based Intervention for Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

CALM is a psychotherapeutic approach to help patients with advanced cancer live meaningfully and face the threat of mortality. It is a brief supportive-expressive intervention that can be delivered by trained healthcare providers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully is a comprehensive resource that delves into the lives of patients and families facing advanced cancer, offering valuable insights and a novel psychotherapeutic approach to help them navigate the challenges of their illness while embracing life's meaning. Developed by Dr. Ira Byock and his colleagues, this brief supportive-expressive intervention, known as CALM (Caring for Life with Meaning), can be delivered by a diverse range of trained healthcare providers as part of cancer care or early palliative care.

The authors provide a thorough overview of the clinical experiences and research that shaped the development of CALM, elucidating its core components and providing a manualized guide to facilitate its implementation. Situated within the framework of early palliative care, this text assumes a pivotal role in equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide psychological support to patients and their families grappling with the practical and profound issues associated with advanced disease.

In the first chapter, the authors introduce the concept of CALM and its significance in addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of patients with advanced cancer. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging the existential dimensions of illness and providing a compassionate response that recognizes the unique challenges faced by these individuals. The authors then outline the clinical experience and research that informed the development of CALM, highlighting the need for a holistic approach that addresses both physical and psychological symptoms.

The second chapter delves into the core components of CALM, including the four pillars of care: connection, meaning, hope, and peace. The authors explain how these pillars work together to create a supportive environment that fosters resilience and empowers patients to make meaningful choices about their care. They provide practical strategies and exercises to help healthcare providers facilitate meaningful connections with patients and their families, cultivate meaning and purpose, instill hope, and promote peace and well-being.

The third chapter focuses on the practical aspects of delivering CALM, including training and supervision requirements, as well as considerations for cultural and linguistic diversity. The authors outline the steps involved in implementing CALM, including assessment, goal setting, and intervention delivery. They also provide examples of successful CALM interventions and discuss the challenges and rewards of working with patients and families facing advanced cancer.

Throughout the text, the authors emphasize the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary care in addressing the complex needs of patients with advanced cancer. They highlight the role of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains, in supporting patients and their families throughout the cancer journey. They also emphasize the significance of addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families, recognizing that these aspects of care are integral to overall well-being and quality of life.

Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients and their families seeking guidance and support in navigating the challenges of advanced cancer. By providing a comprehensive overview of the clinical experience, research, and practical aspects of CALM, the authors offer a roadmap for delivering this innovative psychotherapeutic approach. This text is destined to become essential reading for healthcare professionals engaged in providing psychological support to patients and their families who face the practical and profound problems of advanced disease.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 162 x 243 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190236427