Peculiarities of psychological status families with oncological patient at different stages of disease development

Annotation. Cancer affects not only the patient but also affects the functioning of the whole family. The purpose of the work is to identify the peculiarities of the psychological status of the family with the cancer patient at different stages of the disease. On the base of informed consent, 286 families of cancer patients examined: 174 families with patient-wife and 112 families with patient-husband. Families examined at different stages of the treatment process, namely, at the first episode of the disease — 78 women and 51 men, and after return of the disease or its relapse — 96 women and 63 men. The FACES-3 family adaptation and cohesion scale was used. It is established that in families with cancer patients found changes in family functioning caused by the disease, which expressed in the formation of a specific behaviour patterns, most often by type of excessive care. In patients with continued illness observed changes in behaviour model in form of excessive care or distancing which reflected in levels of cohesion and adaptation. Thus, changes in family functioning in families with a patient suffering from cancer necessitate the development of family-oriented medical-psychological help.