As the number of cancer survivors continues to increase, many face ongoing emotional and psychological challenges such as anxiety and depression. About 30% of those living with or beyond cancer are affected by these conditions, which can often go unspoken and diminish quality of life.
A recent review led by researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has examined caring-healing modalities (CHMs) that may help address these issues in cancer survivors. The study is the first scoping review to focus on CHMs aimed at increasing resilience and reducing emotional distress in people with cancer, particularly among breast cancer survivors.
The findings were published in the journal Nursing Reports. The review assessed 16 global studies, including randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, on various CHMs delivered in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and home settings. These interventions ranged from mindfulness-based programs and therapeutic group discussions to expressive writing and psychoeducation.
“Our findings highlight something too often overlooked in survivorship care: healing doesn’t end when treatment does,” said Judyta Kociolek, corresponding author and director of the FAU Clinical Research Unit. “What patients often need most is to be seen, heard and treated as whole human beings, so they can feel empowered in their recovery and cancer journey. These caring-based practices help them reclaim that sense of self.”
The review was guided by Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, focusing on shared emotional expression, empathetic listening, and a healing environment. According to Rita Gengo, Ph.D., co-author and assistant professor at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing: “This kind of healing environment isn’t just about peace and quiet – it’s a form of caring in action. When you reduce noise, create privacy and invite calm, you allow people to breathe, reflect and begin to mend emotionally. The setting itself becomes part of the therapy.”
Group-based interventions were found especially effective for providing supportive spaces where survivors could share experiences and reduce isolation—either online or face-to-face. Many CHMs reflected Watson’s Caritas Processes: principles emphasizing compassion, deep connection between patient and caregiver, dignity, empathy, trust-building relationships, teaching centered on care rather than illness alone.
“Caring-healing modalities grounded in human connection offer something profoundly transformative,” said Lenny Chiang-Hanisko, Ph.D., co-author and associate professor at the college. “Through caring partnerships, people can access a deeper sense of self, expand their emotional capacity, and awaken their innate ability to heal.”
Mindfulness-based techniques—including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Attention Interpretation Therapy—were among those highlighted for encouraging participants to acknowledge emotions without judgment while cultivating resilience.
The formats for delivering CHMs varied from brief sessions lasting 20–30 minutes to longer-term programs extending over several months; both short- and long-term approaches showed clinical value according to the review.
While improvements were primarily noted for resilience and reduced distress levels among participants with breast cancer history—improvements also included better quality-of-life scores reported subjectively as well as positive changes measured through objective data like fatigue reduction or stress biomarkers.
Kociolek noted: “By bringing together personal experience and biological insight we’re creating a future where care is deeply individualized… It’s a vision of nursing that’s both scientifically rigorous & profoundly human.”
The researchers observed gaps remain regarding use/tested effectiveness for other cancers such as prostate or colorectal forms—and point out funding barriers still limit wider adoption/reimbursement within standard survivorship care plans.
