Cancer Survivorship Research Has Advanced, Yet Key Gaps Remain, Outgoing Editor Says

An outgoing editorial in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice offers a retrospective assessment of how far the field of cancer survivorship research has come, and how much remains unresolved. Michael Feuerstein, writing his final editorial before stepping down from the journal, traces the evolution of the discipline from its early descriptive phase to today’s intervention trials, while cautioning that persistent problems such as non-adherence to care and unequal access to survivorship services remain without real solutions.

In the early years of survivorship research, much of the published work simply described the late and long-term effects that patients experienced after diagnosis and treatment for cancer. Over time, Feuerstein writes, the scope of inquiry expanded. Studies began reporting additional challenges to health care delivery and well-being, and the journal itself contributed population health perspectives on several problems affecting cancer survivors.

A central theme of the editorial is that cancer survivors are not a homogeneous population, even among those diagnosed with the same cancer type. Research published in the journal has documented challenges persisting for 5, 10, 20 years or longer after treatment ends. Studies have reported variation in symptoms both within and across survivors, along with associations between those symptoms and functional, social, and emotional outcomes. Notably, these problems have been observed in many countries with widely diverse health care and economic systems, leading Feuerstein to characterize cancer survivorship as a global public health concern.

The journal has more recently published randomized controlled trials examining the short- and long-term effectiveness of several types of interventions for a range of survivorship problems. Reviews of research published over the years provide clinicians with overviews of the evidence for specific problems within particular cancer types, and for various interventions by cancer type. The editorial highlights the journal’s role in improving understanding of self-management of chronic health problems after cancer, which Feuerstein describes as a critical aspect of survivorship care, and in demonstrating the need for many different types of health care providers to address survivors’ multiple needs.

Cultural variation and support differ greatly both within and across countries, yet the editorial notes growing global attention to survivors themselves, evidenced by the opening of cancer survivorship clinics or programs in several countries. Feuerstein pairs this welcome development with a warning: as new medical treatment modalities are developed for cancers, clinicians and researchers should remain alert to new challenges and to the need for effective long-term interventions for problems that may arise from those newer treatments.

Among the unresolved issues, adherence stands out. Despite the journal’s coverage of diverse interventions from many health care professions, the problem of short- and long-term compliance or adherence remains ever-present, according to the editorial. Many providers still do not refer patients for non-medical treatments, and patients themselves often do not follow up on or comply with approaches that may help, such as certain exercise, nutrition, or psychological interventions. The editorial also points to the journal’s coverage of diversity and the challenges that diverse communities continue to face in survivorship care.

The editorial also reviews the journal’s own performance, citing a Springer report covering the first six months of 2026. The journal’s 5-year impact factor is 4.3 and its 2-year impact factor is 3.4, with a CiteScore of 8.6. Downloads totaled 1.1 million and total citations 6.9 thousand. The journal received 1,221 manuscripts and sent 167 for peer review in the first half of the year, with an acceptance rate of 8 percent. The time from submission to first decision was 2 days, and submission to acceptance took 98 days on average.

By ranking measures, the journal placed first out of 24 in the Oncology Nursing category, the provider group Feuerstein notes typically has the most clinical contact with cancer survivors. Based on its impact factor, the journal moved from 153rd of 326 journals to 148th of 333 in the general Oncology category, a field that includes many journals with much longer histories. Feuerstein frames these metrics as evidence of growing recognition for both the journal and cancer survivorship as a discipline expanding around the world.

The editorial closes on a note of measured optimism paired with caution. While the journal is well situated for future communication of survivorship science, Feuerstein writes that much still remains to be done, particularly as people continue to live longer with many types of cancer. He expresses gratitude to colleagues, authors, reviewers, and editors, and describes his tenure with the journal as an honor and a meaningful part of his professional life, leaving with appreciation for what has been accomplished and hope for what lies ahead.

Subject of Research: A retrospective editorial on the development and remaining challenges of cancer survivorship research

Article Title: We have come a long way, but…..not far enough

Article References: Feuerstein, M. (2026). We have come a long way, but…..not far enough. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02137-8

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11764-026-02137-8

Keywords: cancer survivorship, editorial, Journal of Cancer Survivorship, late effects, adherence, randomized controlled trials, self-management, global health, oncology nursing, impact factor, come, long