The author presents some of the psychoemotive risk factors that, according to the reviewed literature, contribute to the onset and evolution of cancer and the subsequent quality of life. She then examines some critical aspects regarding the communication of the diagnosis which leads to traumatic and non-traumatic distress during the hospitalization, treatments and follow-up stages. Finally, she presents an illness-stage specific treatment model, taking into account cognitive elements of standard and third-generation Cognitive- Behavioral Psychotherapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR.
Keywords: Distress; Trauma; Cancer; Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy; Sensorimotor Psychotherapy; EMDR.