OBJECTIVES: A cancer diagnosis could mean a disruption in the mental health of the patient and their families, when emotions like fear, angst, wrath, guilt, and anguish appear. Therefore, personalized support is important, providing tools and resources to develop personal coping skills. Amid the global pandemic that erupted in 2020, activities that promoted emotional expression and empathy were created and encouraged to help patients validate their feelings. The following analysis was carried out with the intention of creating a study framework that promoted awareness and support for patients and their needs.

METHODS: We developed a patient accompaniment program with an innovative conceptual framework: our therapeutic team made direct contact with the patient and their family, avoiding waiting times and managing to provide an immediate response so that they feel accompanied from the moment of diagnosis. The number of individual meetings was between 8 and 10 sessions, with a great deal of flexibility according to the needs of each person. At the same time, we provided weekly supervision and constant monitoring of all professionals in an interdisciplinary manner with the aim of humanizing and transforming the quality of life of the patient and his or her family.

RESULTS: Through this modality, the program reached 16 provinces of Argentina, 15 countries, and had already supported more than 850 people. We counted on a great team of professional volunteers who accompanied us in getting involved with the patients and making them active participants. This group of professionals was constituted by 30 teachers, 6 psychopedagogues, 14 counselors; 25 psychologists; 13 psycho-oncologists; and 1 psychiatrist.

CONCLUSIONS: The many bureaucratic barriers to accessing treatment reflect patient dissatisfaction and justify the development of tools that promote awareness and support for patients, considering all their needs in a holistic and as humane approach as possible.