Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (537 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Functional, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual domains and needs of patients and families following life-threatening disease or events.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Emotional Adjustment
- See also
- Survivors
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,111 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Survivorship” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,604 of them (76.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 1,604 records.
Reviews account for 443 records (21.0%) and meta-analyses for 20. Randomized controlled trials number 64 (3.0%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 552 |
| 2020 onward | 1,604 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 443 | 21.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 20 | 0.9% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 64 | 3.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Survivorship"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in psychiatry and psychology
Research on mental health and behaviour relies on questionnaires, interviews and rating scales rather than physical measurements, so how a condition was defined and measured shapes every result. Many studies are observational or small, placebo responses can be large, and findings in one group or culture may not carry over to another. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; anyone worried about their mental health should talk to a qualified clinician. Check how outcomes were measured, who took part and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suicide among cancer patients | 2019 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 229 | cc by PMID 30643135 · DOI · PMC6331593 |
| Cancer survivorship: an integral part of Europe's research agenda | 2019 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 105 | cc by PMID 30552794 · DOI · PMC6396379 |
| Quality of Life in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer after a 12-Month Treatment of Lifestyle Modifications | 2020 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 76 | cc by PMID 33396551 · DOI · PMC7824271 |
| Breast cancer survivorship in South Africa: A holistic primary care approach | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 41630682 · DOI · PMC12869804 |
Suicide among cancer patients [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Our purpose is to identify cancer patients at highest risk of suicide compared to the general population and other cancer patients.
- Closing excerpt
- Among those diagnosed at 50, from prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer patients.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (132 words)
Our purpose is to identify cancer patients at highest risk of suicide compared to the general population and other cancer patients. This is a retrospective, population-based study using nationally representative data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, 1973-2014. Among 8,651,569 cancer patients, 13,311 committed suicide; the rate of suicide was 28.58/ 100,000-person years, and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of suicide was 4.44 (95% CI, 4.33, 4.55). The predominant patients who committed suicide were male (83%) and white (92%). Cancers of the lung, head and neck, testes, bladder, and Hodgkin lymphoma had the highest SMRs ( > 5-10) through the follow up period. Elderly, white, unmarried males with localized disease are at highest risk vs other cancer patients. Among those diagnosed at 50, from prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer patients.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30643135 · DOI · PMC6331593
Cancer survivorship: an integral part of Europe's research agenda [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Cancer survivorship has traditionally received little prioritisation and attention.
- Closing excerpt
- The article is summed up with 11 points in need of further focus.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (92 words)
Cancer survivorship has traditionally received little prioritisation and attention. For a long time, the treatment of cancer has been the main focus of healthcare providers' efforts. It is time to increase the amount of attention given to patients' long-term well-being and their ability to return to a productive and good life. This article describes the current state of knowledge and identifies research areas in need of development to enable interventions for improved survivorship for all cancer patients in Europe. The article is summed up with 11 points in need of further focus.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30552794 · DOI · PMC6396379
Quality of Life in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer after a 12-Month Treatment of Lifestyle Modifications [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Healthy lifestyles are associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL), favorable prognosis and lower mortality in breast cancer (BC) survivors.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings are relevant to BC survivors whose lower HRQoL negatively affects treatment compliance and disease outcomes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (210 words)
Healthy lifestyles are associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL), favorable prognosis and lower mortality in breast cancer (BC) survivors. We investigated changes in HRQoL after a 12-month lifestyle modification program in 227 BC survivors participating in DEDiCa trial (Mediterranean diet, exercise, vitamin D). HRQoL was evaluated through validated questionnaires: EQ-5D-3L, EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23. Baseline changes were tested using analysis of variance. Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess treatment effects on HRQoL. Increases were observed in global health status (p p = 0.003), role (p = 0.002) and social functioning (p p p p = 0.001), and reductions in fatigue (p p = 0.015), dyspnea (p = 0.001), constipation (p = 0.049), financial problems (p = 0.012), sexual functioning (p = 0.025), systematic therapy side effects (p p = 0.004). Multiple regression analyses found inverse associations between changes in BMI and global health status (p = 0.048) and between serum 25(OH)D levels and breast symptoms (p = 0.002). A healthy lifestyle treatment of traditional Mediterranean diet and exercise may impact positively on HRQoL in BC survivors possibly through reductions in body weight while vitamin D sufficiency may improve BC-related symptoms. These findings are relevant to BC survivors whose lower HRQoL negatively affects treatment compliance and disease outcomes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33396551 · DOI · PMC7824271
Breast cancer survivorship in South Africa: A holistic primary care approach [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- As breast cancer incidence increases and survival improves, an increasing number of breast cancer survivors (BCS) require long-term follow-up and support.
- Closing excerpt
- A case vignette aims to bridge theory and practice, contextualise decision-making and encourage patient-centred care as it relates to breast cancer survivorship in the South African context.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (103 words)
As breast cancer incidence increases and survival improves, an increasing number of breast cancer survivors (BCS) require long-term follow-up and support. Primary care providers play a central role in maintaining continuity of care, promoting endocrine therapy adherence, managing complications such as lymphoedema and supporting psychosocial well-being. This article aims to provide a structured approach to breast cancer survivorship care, aligned with national cancer care policies and guidelines and international best practices, focused on primary care integration. A case vignette aims to bridge theory and practice, contextualise decision-making and encourage patient-centred care as it relates to breast cancer survivorship in the South African context.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41630682 · DOI · PMC12869804
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Cancer Survivorship [5]
- Research article Developing a Quality of Cancer Survivorship Care Framework: Implications for Clinical Care, Research, and Policy [6]
- Research article Associations Between Breast Cancer Survivorship and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review [7]
- Research article Mitigating long-term and delayed adverse events associated with cancer treatment: implications for survivorship [8]
- Research article Models of Cancer Survivorship Care: Overview and Summary of Current Evidence [9]
- Research article Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship: Learning the Needs, Meeting the Needs [10]
References
- Zaorsky NG, Zhang Y, Tuanquin L, Bluethmann SM, Park HS, Chinchilli VM. Suicide among cancer patients. . 2019. PMID 30643135 · DOI · PMC6331593
- Lagergren P, Schandl A, Aaronson NK, Adami HO, de Lorenzo F, Denis L, et al.. Cancer survivorship: an integral part of Europe's research agenda. . 2019. PMID 30552794 · DOI · PMC6396379
- Montagnese C, Porciello G, Vitale S, Palumbo E, Crispo A, Grimaldi M, et al.. Quality of Life in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer after a 12-Month Treatment of Lifestyle Modifications. . 2020. PMID 33396551 · DOI · PMC7824271
- Rabe M, Robinson NM. Breast cancer survivorship in South Africa: A holistic primary care approach. . 2026. PMID 41630682 · DOI · PMC12869804
- Shapiro CL. Cancer Survivorship. N Engl J Med. 2018. PMID 30575480 · DOI
- Nekhlyudov L, Mollica MA, Jacobsen PB, Mayer DK, Shulman LN, Geiger AM. Developing a Quality of Cancer Survivorship Care Framework: Implications for Clinical Care, Research, and Policy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019. PMID 31095326 · DOI · PMC6855988
- Carreira H, Williams R, Müller M, Harewood R, Stanway S, Bhaskaran K. Associations Between Breast Cancer Survivorship and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018. PMID 30403799 · DOI · PMC6292797
- Lustberg MB, Kuderer NM, Desai A, Bergerot C, Lyman GH. Mitigating long-term and delayed adverse events associated with cancer treatment: implications for survivorship. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2023. PMID 37231127 · DOI · PMC10211308
- Halpern MT, Viswanathan M, Evans TS, Birken SA, Basch E, Mayer DK. Models of Cancer Survivorship Care: Overview and Summary of Current Evidence. J Oncol Pract. 2015. PMID 25205779 · DOI
- Ringash J, Bernstein LJ, Devins G, Dunphy C, Giuliani M, Martino R, et al.. Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship: Learning the Needs, Meeting the Needs. Semin Radiat Oncol. 2018. PMID 29173757 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.