What do patients expect from psychological care providers in oncology?

Psycho-oncology has entered the domain of oncology on tiptoes. While increasing numbers of patients and doctors have embraced it, the demand still far outweighs the supply. In parallel, patients are convening on the Internet where they are able to engage in dialogue and support each other, giving true meaning to the term "social networks". True quality of life is vital to cancer survivorship-options worth exploring to improve patient care include routine consultations with a psycho-oncologist at the beginning and end of treatment, and deeper attention to the suffering of caregivers and loved ones.