Introduction

This patient summary on post-traumatic stress disorder is adapted from the summary written for health professionals by cancer experts. This and other credible information about cancer treatment, screening, prevention, supportive care, and ongoing clinical trials, is available from the National Cancer Institute. Better treatment of many cancers has resulted in more patients experiencing longer periods of disease-free survival. This has also led to more patients experiencing psychological problems, which are collectively called post-traumatic stress disorder. This brief summary describes post-traumatic stress disorder, its symptoms, and its treatment.

This summary is about post-traumatic stress disorder in adults with cancer.