Why cancer-related anxiety may need addressing at different stages throughout the cancer journey
Anxiety is a common experience among people affected by cancer. It may begin when a person receives a diagnosis, increase before chemotherapy or surgery, return around follow-up scans, or persist after treatment has ended.
Although psychological distress is recognised as an important part of cancer care, anxiety may change in different ways throughout the cancer journey.
A new peer-reviewed Perspective published in Frontiers in Psychology proposes ‘Onco-Anxiology’ as a framework for examining cancer-related anxiety more specifically and continuously within existing psycho-oncology care.
The author establishes a framework is based on three principles:
First, recognising anxiety as a specific clinical concern. Anxiety may overlap with depression and broader psychological distress, but it can also involve particular fears related to cancer diagnosis, treatment, recurrence and uncertainty.
Second, considering anxiety throughout the cancer journey. Psychological needs may change during diagnosis, active treatment, surveillance and survivorship. A patient who experiences little anxiety at diagnosis may develop significant anxiety before follow-up scans or after completing treatment.
Third, recognising the circumstances that make cancer-related anxiety particularly challenging. Patients may experience anticipatory anxiety before treatment, fear of recurrence or uncertainty about physical symptoms. Anxiety-related symptoms can also overlap with cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, making careful clinical assessment important.
The proposed framework does not suggest that Onco-Anxiology is an established new medical specialty or that existing psycho-oncology services should be replaced.
Instead, it raises a research question: Could more specific and repeated assessment of cancer-related anxiety help healthcare teams recognise changing psychological needs and provide appropriate support?
Further research is needed to determine whether this approach offers additional clinical benefits beyond established distress-screening and supportive-care practices.
The Perspective was authored by Dr. Chirag Jain, Director and Head of Oncology Research at Mindful Gurukul Private Limited, Mumbai, India.