Introduction

Psycho-Oncology, 4th edition, is the first edition of this series of textbooks, which have defined the field of psycho-oncology, to be edited without Jimmie C. Holland as the senior editor. Hence, those of us who have taken on the both sacred and significant responsibility of editing this 4th edition of Psycho-Oncology have done so with a sense of both sadness and honor. William Breitbart, MD, serves as the new senior editor along with associate editors Phyllis N. Butow, PhD, MPH, of the University of Sydney; Paul B. Jacobsen, PhD, of the U.S. National Cancer Institute; Wendy W. T. Lam, RN, PhD, of the University of Hong Kong; Mark Lazenby, APRN, PhD, of the University of Connecticut School of Nursing; and Matthew J. Loscalzo, MSW, of the City of Hope. In this 4th edition of Psycho-Oncology, we feel we have accomplished the delicate but critical task of balancing the tasks of having this ‘Official Textbook of our Field” to serve both as the source textbook that provided the broadest and most multidisciplinary and essential science and practice of the field of psycho-oncology, as well as the newest and latest innovations and cutting-edge research and clinical practice that would equip our readers with the knowledge and resources to participate in the “new frontiers of psycho-oncology.”