Optimal care for the pediatric cancer patient addresses not only
physical disease and
symptomatology, but includes all aspects of life affected by the diagnosis process. Multidisciplinary care involves meeting psychological, academic, financial, spiritual and practical needs of the patient and the entire family in order to improve psychosocial functioning during and following treatment. Members of a multidisciplinary care team span several disciplines including medicine, psychology, palliative care, social work, child life, and
pastoral care. This chapter addresses medical therapies for cancer, but also delivery of
psychosocial care, and how the multidisciplinary needs of the patient and family change with each phase of treatment. Suggestions for practical interventions at each phase, including diagnosis, active therapy,
survivorship,
disease recurrence, and
bereavement are provided.