Research on Coping with Cancer

About 25% of cancer survivors have persistent anxiety, depression, or other psychological and social (psychosocial) distress. In this interview, Dr. Patricia Ganz discusses psychosocial distress and the challenges and opportunities in this area.

As adults, survivors of childhood cancer aren’t any less likely to have healthy babies than those without a history of cancer, a new study shows. However, they may have more health risks during pregnancy, warranting more intensive obstetric care.

In a large clinical trial, cancer survivors treated with acupuncture had modest improvements in chronic pain compared with those who received standard pain treatments. The study couldn’t rule out a placebo effect for the improvement with acupuncture.

Cancer-related suicides dipped each year between 1999 and 2018 in the United States, a recent study has found. Yet, people who have had cancer remain at high risk for suicide and improvements in supportive care are needed, experts say.

A study found that the risk of developing any of 26 chronic health problems was about 50% higher among cancer survivors who were diagnosed as adolescents and young adults, compared with their peers who did not have cancer.

Researchers are exploring ways to support the psychological and emotional needs of cancer survivors and how to tailor existing approaches to meet the needs of specific individuals or groups.

Dr. Teresa Woodruff discusses the field that connects oncology with reproductive health, and the Oncofertility Consortium’s efforts to support clinicians, cancer patients, and families in understanding how cancer and its treatment affect fertility.

Updated guidelines on exercise for those living with cancer and cancer survivors were recently released. In this conversation, Dr. Kathryn Schmitz discusses what these new guidelines mean for doctors, patients, and survivors.

Findings from a clinical study and a mouse study may shed light on genetic risk factors for developing cancer-related cognitive problems in older breast cancer survivors. The results suggest a gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease may play a role.

Certain cancer treatments can damage the heart and the cardiovascular system, a problem known as cardiotoxicity. Cardiologists and oncologists met recently to discuss strategies and future research directions for addressing these side effects.

Two studies examined the impact of more frequent follow-up testing for cancer recurrence in colorectal cancer survivors. Learn whether the studies showed that frequent testing improved survival.

Some people who have been treated for breast cancer or lymphoma have a higher risk of developing congestive heart failure than people who haven’t had cancer, results from a new study show.

An interactive website designed to promote physical activity among children and adolescents who have completed treatment for cancer may indeed help encourage them to get regular exercise, according to preliminary results from a pilot study.

A new study shows that many patients diagnosed with a new cancer have had one or more cancers in the past, which has potential implications for long-term surveillance and clinical trial enrollment.

Many survivors of early-stage breast cancer prefer that their oncologist handle aspects of routine medical care usually overseen by primary care practitioners, leading to concerns about gaps in care.

In a randomized trial, low-income women who role-played talking with their doctor about their survivorship care plan in a counseling session reported receiving more of their recommended care than women who did not get counseling.

The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) study, which will include 5,560 cancer survivors, will look at the major factors affecting cancer progression, recurrence, mortality, and quality of life among African-American cancer survivors.

Dr. Julia Rowland, director of NCI’s Office of Cancer Survivorship, on the office’s 20th anniversary and efforts to ensure continued progress in survivorship research and improve survivors’ lives.

Many family members who care for loved ones with cancer do not feel adequately prepared for the caregiving tasks they assume and need help to make informed decisions about end-of-life care, according to a new study.

According to an NCI study, the number of older cancer survivors will grow substantially over the next quarter century, increasing the demand for cancer and survivorship care.