Patients with cancer who undergo complex treatments may
experience psychological distress, but it is often unrecognized,
and if left untreated may contribute to poor health
outcomes among patients and their caregivers. Evidencebased
Distress Management Guidelines, developed by the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) include
psychological distress screening for all cancer patients early
in the course of treatment, so that mental health treatment
plans and referrals may be instituted promptly