Neuropsychology of Cancer and Oncology H/C

About this book

This new volume discusses the neuropsychological impact of various cancers and oncology practices, offering health and psychology professionals the most up-to-date practices and interventions and the neuropsychological ramifications they will see in clinical practice. Many recent studies have demonstrated that various cancers and oncology treatments lead to neuropsychological impairments. These deficits have been seen along both cognitive and sensory-motor lines. These impairments are hypothesized to be caused by the neurotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents crossing the blood-brain barrier. These deficits can lead to a powerfully negative impact on functioning and diminished quality of life. Neuropsychologists are trained to provide comprehensive assessments to detect these deficits, as well as aspects of cognitive rehabilitation and pharmacological intervention. However, the utilization of neuropsychology remains novel to professionals within the field of cancer and oncology, which limits the availability of services to patients and medical professionals. Meanwhile, most neuropsychologists, though many practice in healthcare settings and have a grounding in the biological and physiological bases of cognition and behavior, do not have training or an immediate background in oncology or pathology. This edited volume, part of the new Contemporary Neuropsychology series, seeks to bridge these gaps of practice knowledge and be a one-of-a-kind resource for clinical neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, neurologists, oncologists, oncology nurses, and neurorehabilitation professionals.