When curing a pediatric tumor is not enough: the case of a psychiatric disorder in a woman surviving osteosarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
We describe the case of a woman cured of osteosarcoma who took part in a mono-institutional study using different questionnaires to assess pediatric cancer survivors' quality of life and behavioral features 12 years after completing her cancer treatment.


RESULTS
The high levels of psychological distress and psychopathologic symptoms revealed by this patient prompted us to offer her specific and prolonged support at our institution, since she refused to seek the help of other psychiatric services. The woman revealed a dysfunctional social and family setting and a borderline personality disorder. She was hospitalized after attempting suicide. No psychological distress had previously come to light during her long follow-up for cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Cancer survivors are at risk of psychological and behavioral problems, so they should be followed up over time. Questionnaires and standard scales are important, but not enough: the physician-patient relationship is crucial to bring out a patient's psychological issues and needs. This means that dedicated resources should be made available, whenever possible.
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Cristina
C
Meazza
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Laura
L
Veneroni
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Marta
M
Podda
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Monica
M
Terenziani
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Roberto
R
Luksch
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Andrea
A
Ferrari
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Serena
S
Catania
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Schiavello
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Barbara
B
Giacon
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Nadia
N
Puma
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Luca
L
Bergamaschi
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Luisa
L
Roncari
Department of Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Psychology Section, Faculty of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan - Italy.|Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Carlo Alfredo
CA
Clerici
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*