Cancer survivorship extends beyond the completion of cancer-directed treatment. Survivors may continue to experience physical, psychological, cognitive, social, educational, occupational, financial, relational, and functional concerns long after treatment has ended. The transition from active treatment to survivorship can therefore represent an important period of adjustment for survivors and their families.
The Department of Psycho-Oncology provides comprehensive psychosocial care for cancer survivors across the lifespan, integrating psychological and social support with routine cancer follow-up. Our survivorship services are designed to identify concerns early, understand the individual needs of each survivor, and provide appropriate interventions to promote psychological wellbeing, functioning, participation, and quality of life.
Children, adolescents, and young adults who complete cancer treatment may experience challenges while returning to school, resuming social activities, rebuilding independence, developing relationships, and planning for the future. The effects of cancer and its treatment may influence emotional wellbeing, academic functioning, peer relationships, family interactions, self-confidence, body image, health behaviour, and future aspirations. Through the After Completion Therapy (ACT) Clinic, in collaboration with the Department of Medical Oncology, psychosocial care is integrated with survivorship follow-up. The service provides an opportunity to identify concerns that may emerge during the transition from active treatment to survivorship and to provide individualized support. The goal is to help young survivors develop confidence, independence, adaptive coping, and meaningful participation in education, relationships, family life, and other age-appropriate activities.
Returning to education is an important milestone for childhood and adolescent cancer survivors. However, prolonged treatment and the financial consequences of cancer may create barriers to continuing education. The Department facilitates educational scholarship support for eligible survivors who experience financial difficulties in pursuing their studies. This support aims to reduce financial barriers and enable survivors to continue their educational journey and work towards their academic and career aspirations. The scholarship initiative is supported by the Indian Cancer Society through the PICCASO project.
Smile Survivor Support Group
The Smile Survivor Support Group was initiated in 2022 in response to the interest and initiative of cancer survivors who wished to connect with others who had experienced a similar journey. The group provides a supportive environment where survivors can: Share experiences and personal journeys, Develop meaningful peer connections, Exchange practical coping strategies, Discuss challenges associated with life after cancer, Encourage one another through shared experience, Develop a sense of belonging and community, Participate actively in survivor-led support activities. The group functions in collaboration with the Department of Psycho-Oncology, while maintaining a strong emphasis on survivor participation and empowerment. Regular survivor meetings are conducted at the Cancer Institute, along with virtual meetings that facilitate continued connection and participation. Survivors are viewed not only as recipients of care but also as valuable partners who can contribute their lived experiences, perspectives, and strengths to the wider cancer community.
Psychosocial care remains an important component of cancer survivorship for adults. Completion of treatment may bring relief and a sense of accomplishment; however, survivors may continue to experience concerns such as fear of cancer recurrence, uncertainty about the future, changes in family and social roles, occupational and financial difficulties, body-image concerns, relationship difficulties, emotional distress, and challenges in returning to previous routines. The Department provides counselling and psychological support as part of routine follow-up care for adult cancer survivors. Interventions are individualized according to the survivor's concerns and may include: Supportive psychotherapy, Counselling for adjustment after cancer, Management of anxiety and emotional distress, Support for fear of cancer recurrence, Coping with uncertainty and life changes, Relationship and family-focused support, Support for body image and self-esteem, Support related to work and social reintegration, Behavioural interventions, Health-related behaviour modification, Support for maintaining meaningful activities and quality of life. The aim is not simply to help survivors cope with the absence of disease, but to support them in rebuilding confidence, functioning, relationships, independence, and a meaningful life after cancer.
Cancer survivors possess a unique form of experiential knowledge that can be valuable to individuals and families currently undergoing treatment. Through survivor-to-patient support initiatives, motivated survivors are encouraged to share their experiences with patients and families who may be facing uncertainty, fear, or adjustment difficulties. Their experiences can provide: Emotional encouragement, A sense of hope and possibility and Practical understanding of the treatment journey. This approach recognizes survivors as active partners within the cancer-care community. Their lived experiences can complement professional care while creating a supportive connection between people at different stages of the cancer journey.
Assessment is an essential component of survivorship care. The purpose of assessment is to identify concerns that may otherwise remain unrecognized and to understand how cancer and its treatment may be affecting the survivor's psychological wellbeing, functioning, relationships, and quality of life. The Department uses structured and need-based assessment to identify individual areas of concern and guide appropriate intervention. Assessment may include evaluation of: Psychological distress, Anxiety and depressive symptoms, Adjustment difficulties, Fear of cancer recurrence, Coping and resilience, Emotional responses to changes after cancer, Physical and Symptom-Related Concerns, Pain, Fatigue, Sleep difficulties, Treatment-related symptoms, Impact of physical symptoms on daily functioning, Cognitive and Neuro psychological Functioning.
Developmental and Functional Concerns
Particular attention is given to developmental needs among children, adolescents, and young adults, including education, independence, identity development, vocational aspirations, and transition into adult roles.
Quality of Life
Quality-of-life assessment helps understand the broader impact of cancer survivorship across physical, psychological, social, and functional domains.
Assessment findings are used to identify priority concerns, establish individualized goals, and determine the appropriate level of psychosocial intervention. Assessment is therefore not viewed as a one-time activity but as an ongoing component of survivorship care when clinically indicated.
Neurocognitive Rehabilitation for Brain Tumour Survivors
Some cancer survivors, particularly those treated for brain tumour, may experience cognitive difficulties that affect education, work, social participation, and everyday functioning. The Department provides structured neurocognitive rehabilitation for eligible brain tumour survivors identified through the After Completion Therapy Clinic. Following assessment, rehabilitation is individualized according to the survivor's cognitive profile and functional needs. The rehabilitation process may focus on:
Attention and concentration
Memory functioning
Executive functioning
Organization and planning
Problem-solving skills
Learning strategies
Compensatory strategies for cognitive difficulties
Academic and functional adaptation
Improving independence in daily activities
Where appropriate, rehabilitation also involves psycho education and guidance for families and caregivers so that strategies can be incorporated into the survivor's everyday environment. The overall goal is to help survivors maximize their functional potential, improve participation in meaningful activities, and develop practical strategies to manage persistent cognitive difficulties.
The Department of Psycho-Oncology is committed to developing evidence that can strengthen survivorship care and address the psychosocial and functional needs of cancer survivors across the lifespan. Our research focuses on understanding how cancer and its treatment influence survivors over time and on developing approaches that can improve long-term wellbeing, functioning, participation, and quality of life.
The Department of Psycho-Oncology is actively engaged in research aimed at understanding and addressing the psychosocial and functional needs of cancer survivors across the lifespan. The department's survivorship research has examined psychological wellbeing, quality of life, late and long-term effects of cancer treatment, cognitive and developmental outcomes, interpersonal and family relationships, sexual health, and the experiences of survivors and caregivers. Research conducted through the After Completion Therapy (ACT) Clinic among long-term pediatric cancer survivors has demonstrated the persistence of psychosocial concerns beyond completion of treatment and highlighted the importance of structured, multidimensional survivorship assessment. The department has also contributed to research examining late effects and quality of life among childhood cancer survivors and psychosocial and sexual health concerns among adult cancer survivors. These research efforts provide an evidence base for strengthening survivorship services and inform the development of individualized psychosocial assessment, rehabilitation, behavioral interventions, and supportive care. The department continues to focus on clinically relevant and culturally responsive research that can improve long-term wellbeing, functioning, participation, and quality of life for people living beyond cancer.
The Department of Psycho-Oncology views survivorship as an ongoing journey rather than a point reached after completion of treatment. Our goal is to help survivors move from surviving cancer to living well beyond cancer supporting their psychological wellbeing, cognitive and functional abilities, relationships, education, work, independence, and participation in meaningful life activities. Through clinical care, assessment, rehabilitation, survivor engagement, and research, we aim to strengthen survivorship services and contribute to a model of cancer care in which the long-term wellbeing of every survivor remains an important part of cancer care.
“Our commitment is to support survivors not only to live beyond cancer, but to learn, work, connect, contribute, grow, and live well.”
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