A narrative review of cancer-related loneliness in those living with and beyond cancer, and their close persons

Cancer-related loneliness is a feeling of social disconnection caused by a diagnosis of cancer, and it is associated with individuals’ cancer-related social expectations. It is conceptually distinct when compared with loneliness in a general population due to the unique challenges of cancer. Cancer-related loneliness also impacts close persons including caregivers and dependent youth, with both these populations reporting experiences of loneliness. Given that loneliness is related to a range of harmful psychological and physical outcomes, and there is a paucity of interventions to address cancer-related loneliness in patients and close persons, it is vital for healthcare professionals to be aware of loneliness in these populations. This review provides key takeaways for healthcare professionals to best support patients and close persons experiencing cancer-related loneliness and provides recommendations for future research directions.