Editorial: Living With and Beyond Cancer Across the Lifespan

İsmail Toygar^1*Annie Young²Gülcan Bağcivan³Paz Fernández-Ortega⁴

• ¹Mugla Sitki Kocman Universitesi, Mugla, Türkiye
• ²University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
• ³University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, United States
• ⁴Institut Catala d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

The population of individuals living with or beyond cancer has increased in recent decades, a development largely attributable to advancements in improved awareness and prevention, early diagnosis, exiting new drugs and cell therapies and more precise surgical and radiotherapy techniques. However, not for all; there are huge inequities in cancer outcomes and attention to living with and beyond cancer throughout the world (1). The Global Cancer Observatory dataset, published by the World Health Organization showed that the global population of cancer survivors is estimated to be 50 million, with 18 millions of these residing in the United States and 32 million residing in other regions of the world (2).The needs and experiences of this growing population have become increasingly significant in recent decades (3). People living with and beyond cancer may be affected physically; nonetheless, the psychological and social challenges are often distressing. These challenges require a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to individuals living with and beyond cancer.The studies gathered in this Special Issue build on this premise, exploring a wide range of settings, diagnoses and methodological traditions. Chen et al. (2025) analysed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and demonstrated a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and mortality among cancer survivors. They further showed that adequate physical activity can mitigate the risks associated with both short and long sleep. However, they also noted that inadequate physical activity can have a synergistic effect, amplifying the risk at sleep extremes. In their seminal study, Wang et al. (2024) examined nasopharyngeal cancer survivors and reported high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. In their seminal study, Wang et al. (2024) examined nasopharyngeal cancer survivors and reported high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The risk of these conditions increased with older age at diagnosis and peaked within months after diagnosis before easing around 12 months, emphasising the need for early psychological support. In Romania, Kállay et al. (2024) found that poorer sexual health and a greater fear of progression were associated with depression, anxiety, a younger age, a lower level of education, living in a rural area, and a lower level of satisfaction with communication with clinicians. This underscores a frequently disregarded aspect of survivorship. In their 2024 study, Ahmed et al. found that 58.4% of Palestinian women diagnosed with breast cancer experienced death anxiety. The researchers found that active coping strategies were associated with reduced odds of anxiety, while some forms of religiosity and self-blame were associated with higher odds. These findings suggest that there are nuanced, culturally influenced targets for psycho-oncology. As for caregivers, Xu et al. (2024) conducted a prospective mixed-methods study of spousal caregivers of young and middle-aged patients with terminal cancer in China and found that spousal social support, the availability of alternative caregivers for other dependents, and the number of venous pathways/instruments on the patient were significant predictors of caregivers' stress responses. Qualitatively, four "death-care" themes emerged: caring for patients' physical function, communicating with patients, anticipatory widowhood, and a shift in life focus and values. In addressing the issue of symptom burden, Asefa et al. (2024) highlighted cancer-related fatigue in Ethiopia, which was found to have a prevalence of 77.4%. The study identified late stage, anaemia, comorbidities, and lack of insurance as significant correlates. Interviews revealed that financial strain and symptom burden were key factors contributing to fatigue. Patients' information needs are also clearly expressed: Caprara et al. ( 2024) conducted a study that involved the mapping of nutrition-related inquiries posed by Italian breast cancer survivors (n = 1,159). The findings of this study indicated a pronounced demand for evidence-based guidance. In response to this need, Caprara et al. subsequently implemented a pilot programme comprising Instagram live sessions and a provider workshop. With regard to movement-based interventions, a review of Tai Chi/Baduanjin randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in breast cancer was conducted by Chen (Y.) et al. ( 2024), which revealed improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue, and quality of life. However, the researchers cautioned that heterogeneity and the overall quality of the evidence necessitate more rigorous trials. Furthermore, Xiong et al. (2024) synthesised 48 RCTs and identified an optimal exercise "dose" of ~850 MET-min/week for maximising health-related quality of life, with mixed training ranking highest and diminishing returns beyond ~1,100 MET-min/week -an actionable benchmark for survivorship programmes.When considered collectively, these contributions advocate for a comprehensive survivorship care model. This comprehensive model should involve the early and frequent screening for mental health concerns post-diagnosis, the normalization of discourse surrounding sexual well-being, the acknowledgement of caregiver stress as a clinical concern, the adaptation of care to align with patients' preferred sources of information, and the prescription of movement with clearly defined, data-driven targets, whilst considering culturally appropriate modalities. In summary, "living with and beyond cancer" is not a single phenomenon, but rather a series of interconnected physiological, psychological and social adjustments. The articles in this collection provide a comprehensive overview of experiences of people living with and beyond cancer. As a global cancer community, we will together to reach other countries where living with and beyond cancer programmes do not exist.