During the 25th IPOS World Congress at Maastricht, Netherlands, it was inspiring to meet participants from around the globe, sharing their research and clinical work in psycho-oncology. Innovative ideas for optimizing psychosocial cancer care were particularly exciting. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) forecasts over 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, a 77% increase from 20 million in 2022, significantly raising the cancer burden. As emphasized in the opening remarks, a multidisciplinary team approach is essential for psychosocial cancer care. Specialists like psychiatrists and psychologists are crucial for patients needing intensive support. However, most cancer patients do not require this level of specialist care; patient-centered care can address their psychosocial needs. IPOS advocates that psychosocial care is a human right. To meet this standard, patient-centered care must involve frontline healthcare professionals such as general practitioners, oncologists, nurses, social workers, patient advocates, and allied health professionals in providing psychosocial support. Additionally, the rising cancer burden makes a sustainable model, like the social-medical collaboration model increasingly necessary. We will never have enough highly trained mental health and other healthcare specialists working within a conventional medical care paradigm to meet the demands for psychosocial oncological care that are coming. A wider approach is needed. Many supportive care services are community-based and operated by non-government or charity organizations. Strengthening medical-social collaboration can potentially offer seamless, bidirectional support to help meet this rapid growth in demand. IPOS fosters multidisciplinary collaboration in research, clinical practice, and professional training, as sees inclusivity as a key to optimizing cancer care.
We bring voices together from all areas to the World Congress and backgrounds as proof that a medical-social collaboration is very much needed. We share knowledge, best practices, new research and paths forward focussed on patients. Sometimes opinions may differ, but the importance of every person and their value to patients should not be undervalued.
Wendy Lam, PhD, RN
President, IPOS
