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Oncological Healthcare: Emergency and Supportive/Palliative Approaches

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Prof. Dr. Ahmed Elsayem

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Guest Editor

Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Interests: palliative care; symptom distress; oncology; emergency medicine; critical care; goals of care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Pavitra Parimala Krishnamani

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Guest Editor Assistant

Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Interests: emergency medicine; supportive oncology; healthcare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The cancer journey is often complex and unpredictable, necessitating a dual-focused approach in modern oncology: proactive support and acute emergency management. Supportive care is a fundamental, continuous component of comprehensive cancer treatment, aimed at managing the side effects of therapy, alleviating psychological distress, and optimizing quality of life for patients and families from diagnosis through survivorship or end-of-life care. Conversely, oncological emergencies are critical, life-threatening complications that demand immediate intervention to prevent death or severe disability. This integrated paradigm, which seamlessly blends sustained supportive measures with vigilant readiness for acute crises, is essential to providing holistic, patient-centered care. It ensures that the healthcare system is equipped to address the entire spectrum of patient needs, from daily symptom management to urgent, high-stakes interventions, ultimately safeguarding patient well-being throughout the treatment continuum. This Special Issue invites original research and reviews addressing the critical integration of emergency and supportive care in oncology.

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Elsayem
Guest Editor

Dr. Pavitra Parimala Krishnamani
Guest Editor Assistant

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Publisher’s Notice

The Special Issue has been shifted from Section Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention to Section Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life on 12 November 2025. At the time of the move, there were no publications in this Special Issue.

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13 pages, 468 KB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Health-Related Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors: Cross-Sectional Associations with Comorbidities, Navigation Services Use, and Perceived Social Support

by Daniela López-Vallejo, Cynthia M. Pérez, Lorena González-Sepúlveda and Marievelisse Soto-Salgado

Cancers 2025, 17(23), 3784; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17233784 - 26 Nov 2025

Viewed by 307

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Puerto Rico, its impact worsened by an aging population. Many survivors experience long-term effects that reduce health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Chronic comorbidities are common in Puerto Rico, yet cancer survivors remain underrepresented in HRQoL research, raising concern about their impact on survivorship. This study examined whether comorbidity burden was associated with HRQoL and if patient navigation services or perceived social support moderated this association. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 643 cancer survivors from the START-PR study (November 2023–August 2025). HRQoL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G) and dichotomized at the sample median (≤71 = poor; >71 = non-poor). Comorbidity burden was grouped as 0, 1, or ≥2 conditions. Patient navigation was assessed by self-reported service use in the past year. Perceived social support was measured using an adapted Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and dichotomized at the sample median (≤40 = low; >40 = high). Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR; 95% CI), adjusting for covariates. Interaction terms tested effect modification. Results: Participants with one (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.15–2.97) or ≥2 comorbidities (OR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.88–4.61) had significantly higher odds of poor HRQoL than those without comorbidities. Hypertension, depression, diabetes, arthritis, and asthma were more common among participants with poor HRQoL. Neither patient navigation nor perceived social support significantly moderated the comorbidity burden-HRQoL association. Conclusions: Greater comorbidity burden was associated with poor HRQoL. These findings underscore the need for survivorship care models that integrate chronic disease management, including mental health, to improve outcomes in underserved populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncological Healthcare: Emergency and Supportive/Palliative Approaches)

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