What lurks beneath the symptom? Why more basic scientists are needed in cancer supportive care and survivorship research

Abstract

With a growing population of people living with and beyond cancer, a larger portion of cancer research has shifted to ensuring that these people not only survive but survive well, and so supportive oncology has emerged as a critical component of modern cancer care. However, research and advancements in supportive care strategies have largely centered around symptom management, without an appreciation for the physiological mechanisms underlying the symptom. By placing a greater emphasis on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms that lurk beneath the symptom in supportive care and survivorship research, superior symptom control and greater improvements to quality of life, through the development of targeted interventions, can be achieved.

Keywords: Cancer survivorship; Side effect science; Supportive care; Symptom biology; Symptom science.