Psychosocial support is designed to preserve, restore or enhance quality of life. Secondly, early detection of patients' needs or problems refers to the assumption that early interventions' could have therapeutic results superior to those of delayed support, both for quality of life and survival. Thirdly, restorative interventions refer to actions used when a cure is likely, the aim being the control or elimination of residual cancer disability. Fourthly, supportive rehabilitation is planned to lessen disability related to chronic disease, characterized by cancer illness remission and progression, and to active treatment. Fifthly, palliation is required when curative treatments are likely to no longer be effective, and when maintaining or improving comfort becomes the main goal.
Psychological interventions are often multidisciplinary, with a variety of content.
Social interventions usually include financial, household, equipment, and transport assistance depending on individual and family needs and resources. Health care services devoted to delivery of these interventions are hospital, hospice or home-based and organized very differently depending on already available community resources and local practice.