がん患者の外見の変化に対するプログラムと心理的サポート

Summary
　従来のがん医療においては，生命予後に直接に係わらない患者の外見の問題は重視されなかった。しかし，医療技術の進歩や通院治療環境の整備により，社会生活を送りながら治療を継続する患者が増加している。このような社会との接触は，患者に対してその外見を意識することを余儀なくさせる。実際に，98%もの患者が外見に関連した情報やケアが病院から提供されることを希望し，その多くが「仕事中は従来どおりの姿を装うことが重要である」と答えていた。今後は，患者のQOLを維持しつつ治療の遂行をサポートし，その社会復帰を促進するためには外見に現れる症状への対策が重要性を増すと考えられる。そこで本稿では，患者の外見の問題を支援するプログラムのモデルと，その実施時における注意点を示す。

In cancer treatment, issues of physical appearance that have no direct bearing on a patient's prognosis have not been accorded much importance.
As a result of advancements in medical technology and improved outpatient treatment environments, a growing number of cancer patients are able to continue their social lives while undergoing treatment. Contact with society makes it difficult for patients to avoid being acutely aware of their physical appearance. As many as 98% of the patients we surveyed actually expressed a desire for their hospital to provide them with information and care related to personal appearance. When questioned, many also responded that, when at work, it was important to look the same as they had prior to treatment. In order to assist patients in maintaining their QOL, support their treatment implementation, and facilitate their reintegration into society, strategies that consider appearance-related symptoms are likely to become increasingly important in the future.
In this article, the author outlines certain precautions that should be observed when implementing model patient support programs related to issues of personal appearance.