Introduction to the Special Issue on Cancer Rehabilitation

One aim of psycho-oncology is to help cancer survivors avoid “a kind of functional death in which the person prematurely disengages from the opportunities of life” (Scheier & Carver, 2001, p. 27). This quotation likewise speaks to one of the most important aspirations of occupational therapy in oncology: To facilitate wellness through engagement in the activities that make their life worth living (Newman et al., 2019). That aspiration is clearly communicated in the articles selected for this special issue and it is our pleasure to share them with you.

Each article in this issue is focused on the occupational lives of people who have been diagnosed with cancer. The studies described in the articles have the ultimate goal of informing occupational therapy practice with different groups of cancer survivors in settings ranging from the acute care hospital to the community. Each article gives us insight into the potential assets, challenges, and priorities that may be experienced by cancer survivors and, therefore, broadens our perspective as clinicians and researchers seeking to support this heterogeneous population.

Two of the articles describe the particular needs and challenges of a subgroup of cancer survivors. Ramirez and colleagues conducted a qualitative study of Latinx cancer survivors and family members exploring their perspectives regarding changes in their daily lives and activities (Ramirez et al., 2021). Participants reported loss in some roles and activities after treatment, yet enhancement in other roles and activities. Their experiences occurred in and were colored by layers of contextual influences from family, community, healthcare system and country and cue us to be alert to the ways in which a person’s culture can interact with their health, well-being, and healthcare needs.

Coss and colleagues also conducted a descriptive study of the level of activity engagement reported by people attending a community-based cancer support center (Coss et al., 2021). Participants reported an overall reduction in activity level since cancer diagnosis, but did acknowledge increases in certain activities out of necessity (e.g., resting, going to medical visits) or choice (e.g., volunteer activities). The small convenience sample allows us to imagine ways in which occupational therapists might develop programs to explore and enhance activity engagement within the community setting.

The article by Morikawa and Amanat presents a case study of occupational therapy provided within the acute care setting (Morikawa & Amanat, 2021). This is a helpful contribution to the literature as there are few studies providing evidence or description of occupational therapy services in that setting. The authors demonstrate the ways in which a focus on occupational engagement can be reflected in practice, even in a highly medical and constrained environment.

Finally, Polo et al. report the outcomes of a single arm pilot study of a health and wellness program for cancer survivors (Polo et al., 2021). They created an intervention in which a self-management approach was enhanced with an explicit focus on occupational performance. They found improvements in occupational performance, satisfaction, and quality of life, setting the stage for further efficacy testing.

We were heartened and humbled by the opportunity to serve as guest editors for this special issue. It was a particular joy to see so many manuscripts focused upon exploring ways to understand the occupational lives of cancer survivors and ways to enhance the therapy that we are able to provide. We hope the conversation these articles initiates continues to catalyze advances in the science and practice of cancer rehabilitation.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.