ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the social work roles in both oncology and palliative care settings. Supportive cancer care and psychosocial guidelines are one of the key frameworks in understanding the role of social workers and other health care clinicians to provide evidence based clinical practice and resources as they approach working with patients and their families. Oncology social work and palliative care social work roles have developed into highly specialised clinical areas of practice within national and international health care systems. The social work role in oncology and palliative care is very similar to the focus of all social work. That is to enhance the person's social, psychological and emotional ability to function when a crisis occurs. Breast cancer social workers develop their specialised knowledge of the impact of breast cancer and also work closely as part of the multidisciplinary team with the breast care clinical nurses to support women diagnosed with breast cancer.
