title: The patient with cancer: social and clinical perspectives for the dentist.
abstract: Dentists can have a significant role in the care of individuals with cancer. They detect and provide treatment for patients with head and neck cancer and routinely provide oral care to patients who have other forms of cancer. This paper addresses the social, clinical, and psychological responses to cancer and considers the patient's understandings of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The findings in this paper are based on intensive interviews with 42 patients with cancer and family members, sociological participant-observation of oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation of the patient with head and neck cancer in major teaching hospital settings, and a review of the literature. Cancer was associated with an uncertain course and prognosis, made more problematic by imagery, fear, and fatalism. Patient behaviors, including delayed care seeking, are related to understandings of cancer and the social and family interactions that may occur around the disease. Professional role dilemmas, strategies toward informing patients of their cancer, and dealing with death are considered as issues dentists may face in care of the patient with cancer.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*