Wir überwinden Grenzen

From diagnosis to coping: Psychosocial Cancer Counseling Center at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has been offering comprehensive support for cancer patients and their relatives for 15 years

The psychosocial cancer counseling center at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF of the Medical Center of Freiburg is celebrating its 15th anniversary: Since its foundation, it has offered valuable low-threshold and timely support for outpatient cancer patients and their relatives, in Freiburg and beyond. The counseling includes psycho-oncological and socio-legal support to help cope with the many challenges during and after cancer. The services are an important resource for those affected and their families.

"In 2023, we advised 1,123 patients and their families," explains Cornelia Schulz, Head of the Psychosocial Cancer Counseling Center. "Demand has grown continuously in recent years. Our aim has always been to accompany people on their journey, to strengthen them and provide them with emotional support."

Comprehensive advice in difficult times

Psychosocial support is aimed at cancer patients and their relatives to support them through personal, written, video-based or telephone-based individual or couples counseling. According to Schulz, cancer is often associated with a wide range of stresses and strains that greatly change a person's life. For example, patients and relatives turn to the advice center with fears, excessive demands, communication difficulties with their partners, but also professional and financial issues. The services on offer include advice on coping with the illness, help in dealing with crises, as well as advice and information on rehabilitation measures and social law issues. Various group offers, such as music or art therapy, complement the counseling. The advice center is also an important interface to other professional support services in the region.

The illness of a parent is always a particular challenge for the whole family. That is why "Tigerherz... When parents have cancer", also part of the Psychosocial Cancer Counseling Center, offers affected families targeted advice and help. Here, parents and children are supported in finding new ways of dealing with the changed life situation together and creatively. In a protected environment, children and young people can give space to all their thoughts, feelings, questions and worries. Even in the face of challenges, lightness, joy, creativity and (self-)confidence should be strengthened in order to promote positive development.

"Our aim is to support the patient and their entire family. In this way, we can help them cope with the emotional and social burdens of cancer together," adds Schulz. Thanks to the funding of the cancer counseling center by the German Cancer Society until 2019 and since 2020 regularly by the health insurance companies, counseling is free of charge for those seeking advice.

"Psychosocial cancer counseling is a core part of our care approach at the Tumor Center - University of Freiburg Medical Center. Its contribution to improving the quality of life of our patients is immense," says Prof. Dr. Stefan Fichtner-Feigl, Spokesperson of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF and Medical Director of the Department of General and Visceral Surgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. "We are delighted that we have been able to offer holistic support that goes far beyond medical treatment through such specialized services for 15 years."