Quality of Life and Side Effects Management in Cancer Treatment (Volume II)

This Special Issue of Cancers brings together a diverse collection of studies focused on the evolving understanding of quality of life (QoL) in cancer care. As survival rates continue to improve, the attention of oncology research and clinical practice is increasingly shifting toward the lived experiences of patients—how they function, cope, and thrive throughout and beyond treatment.

The articles explore QoL from multiple angles: long-term trajectories among breast cancer survivors, the impact of chronic myeloid leukemia on occupational participation, and the validation of a sarcoma-specific patient-reported outcome measure. Several contributions investigate how cancer therapies—such as immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and opioids—affect not only clinical outcomes but also physical functioning, sensory perception, and psychological time orientation. Particular attention is given to vulnerable groups, including older adults undergoing immunotherapy and adolescents and young adults with rare, indolent metastatic sarcomas.

Collectively, this Special Issue underscores that quality of life is not a secondary endpoint but a central dimension of cancer care. By integrating clinical, psychosocial, and biological perspectives, the articles highlight the importance of personalized approaches that preserve dignity, functionality, and patient autonomy across the cancer continuum.