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Current Oncology
Special Issues
Psychological Interventions for Cancer Survivors
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Psychological Interventions for Cancer Survivors

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychosocial Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 3074

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Christian Schulz-Quach

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2E8, Canada
Interests: trauma-related psychiatry and specific psychotherapies in advanced stage cancer care

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer survivors face multifaceted psychological challenges following the completion of treatment. Beyond the resolution of physical symptoms, the enduring emotional, cognitive, and existential impacts of cancer and its treatment profoundly shape survivors' quality of life. These challenges often manifest in disruptions to identity, meaning-making, and interpersonal relationships, highlighting the need for holistic and tailored psychological interventions.

Psychological interventions for cancer survivors encompass a broad spectrum of therapeutic modalities aimed at mitigating psychological distress, enhancing coping capacities, and fostering emotional and relational well-being. These interventions may include evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and group therapy, alongside existential–phenomenological and relational modalities. The latter emphasize the exploration of lived experiences, the restoration of agency, and the reestablishment of meaningful connections within survivors' social and relational contexts. Collectively, these strategies aim to support survivors in navigating the complex interplay between the psychological, relational, and existential dimensions of post-treatment life, thereby promoting resilience, adherence to follow-up care, self-esteem, and social reintegration.

This Special Issue invites submissions of original research articles and reviews that advance the understanding and implementation of psychological interventions for cancer survivors. Contributions that examine innovative or integrative therapeutic approaches, including existential-phenomenological, relational, and other evidence-based interventions, and their impact on the multifaceted domains of survivors' well-being are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Christian Schulz-Quach
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer survivors
  • psychological interventions
  • mental health
  • quality of life
  • existential–phenomenological approaches
  • relational frameworks
  • resilience
  • evidence-based therapies
  • post-treatment care

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 227 KB  
Article
Phased Traumatic Stress Responses Among Caregivers of Children and Adults Recently Diagnosed with Acute Leukemia: A Grounded Theory Study
by Carmine Malfitano, Stephanie M. Nanos, Luigi Grassi, Rosangela Caruso and Gary Rodin
Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(5), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33050255 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 273
Abstract
A diagnosis of acute leukemia (AL) represents a sudden, life-threatening event that places family caregivers (FCs) at high risk for traumatic stress. While traumatic stress symptoms have been documented among FCs later in the cancer trajectory, little is known about how these responses [...] Read more.
A diagnosis of acute leukemia (AL) represents a sudden, life-threatening event that places family caregivers (FCs) at high risk for traumatic stress. While traumatic stress symptoms have been documented among FCs later in the cancer trajectory, little is known about how these responses unfold during the immediate peri-diagnostic period, when acute stress disorder (ASD) may emerge, and early intervention could be most impactful. We conducted a qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory approach to examine early traumatic stress responses among FCs of adults and children with newly diagnosed AL. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 caregivers within the first six months of diagnosis as part of two clinical trials at major cancer centres in Toronto, Canada, and were analyzed iteratively using constant comparative methods. Caregivers described a coherent trajectory of traumatic stress responses across three phases. The anticipatory phase was characterized by prolonged uncertainty, helplessness, and mounting fear during diagnostic investigations. The acute phase, beginning at diagnosis, involved an abrupt shift toward emotional numbing, deliberate avoidance of catastrophic thoughts, and a narrowed focus on immediate tasks, often described as operating on “autopilot.” In the post-acute phase, as patients stabilized and discharge approached, caregivers reported increased emotional access, including grief, anger, and recognition of their own trauma, alongside emerging concerns about long-term caregiving and life disruption. These findings suggest that FCs of individuals with newly diagnosed AL exhibit a phased pattern of traumatic stress responses, marked by an early, adaptive dissociative coping response followed by delayed emotional processing, underscoring the importance of phase-sensitive psychosocial care in oncology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions for Cancer Survivors)
12 pages, 635 KB  
Article
Electronic Health Literacy, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life in Urological Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Study During Transition from Inpatient to Outpatient Care
by Dominik Fugmann, Steffen Holsteg, Ralf Schäfer, Günter Niegisch, Ulrike Dinger and André Karger
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(11), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32110637 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1068
Abstract
Urological cancers are associated with reduced quality of life and high psychological burden, yet affected patients receive less psychosocial support than other cancer groups. Electronic health literacy (eHL) may facilitate independent access to resources, but its role for psychological outcomes and quality of [...] Read more.
Urological cancers are associated with reduced quality of life and high psychological burden, yet affected patients receive less psychosocial support than other cancer groups. Electronic health literacy (eHL) may facilitate independent access to resources, but its role for psychological outcomes and quality of life in this group is unclear. This study examined associations between eHL, psychological symptoms, and quality of life during transition from inpatient to outpatient care. A prospective, single-centre observational study was conducted. Eligible inpatients (urological cancer, Distress Thermometer ≥5 and/or request for psycho-oncological support) received an initial psycho-oncology consultation and completed surveys during inpatient treatment (T1) and three months later (T2). Measures included socio-demographics, PO-BADO, eHL (eHEALS), distress, depression (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30). Of 108 patients completing T1, 71 completed T2. After controlling for age, eHL was not significantly associated with distress, depression, anxiety, or quality of life. Age did not moderate these relationships. In this sample, eHL showed no significant associations with psychological outcomes or quality of life. However, higher age was linked to lower eHL, suggesting that older patients may face barriers to digital health engagement. Age-related differences in eHL should be considered when designing digital support services for urological cancer patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions for Cancer Survivors)
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Review

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15 pages, 360 KB  
Review
An Integrative Review to Examine the Care Pathways and Support Available for Individuals Diagnosed with Lung Cancer Who Have Never Smoked
by Christopher Dodd, Catherine Henshall, Mohini Jain and Zoe Davey
Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33010004 - 20 Dec 2025
Viewed by 975
Abstract
As the proportion of people diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked rises, it is important to understand how their experiences differ from those of smokers. A better understanding of their experiences, views, and informational and supportive care needs is essential to [...] Read more.
As the proportion of people diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked rises, it is important to understand how their experiences differ from those of smokers. A better understanding of their experiences, views, and informational and supportive care needs is essential to ensuring an optimised patient-centred care pathway leading to improvements in patient satisfaction, quality of life, and treatment outcomes. This integrative review of the international literature identified 5866 articles by searching four academic databases, the grey literature, and hand-searching the reference lists of relevant systematic reviews. After screening, ten studies were selected for inclusion in the review. Thematic analysis identified five themes that spoke to the experiences of never smokers with lung cancer: stigma, awareness, diagnosis, the emotional response, and support. Stigma pervades, with potentially significant psychological and social consequences, negatively affecting patients emotionally and potentially delaying their diagnosis. Increasing awareness amongst healthcare professionals and the general public has the potential to reduce stigma and encourage earlier diagnosis. Support specifically tailored for never smokers with lung cancer can improve individuals’ experiences of care. The experiences of never smokers with lung cancer are unique, and more research is required to better tailor support and guidance for this cohort. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Interventions for Cancer Survivors)
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