Current situation and unmet demands of supportive care for cancer patients in China

Abstract Supportive care in cancer (SCC), which encompasses the management of symptoms and treatment-related adverse effects, as well as the promotion of physical and psychological well-being throughout the whole course of treatment into follow-up of survivors, can significantly improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes of cancer patients. Over the past decade, substantial progress has been achieved in SCC-related clinical research globally. However, development and implementation of SCC in China still face considerable challenges, largely attributable to regional disparities in medical resources, limited financial support, and sociocultural factors. This comprehensive review delineates the current state of SCC in China based on a nationwide cross-sectional survey, highlighting the unmet needs of cancer patients, survivors, and healthcare providers. Key issues included insufficient social and financial support, suboptimal symptom management, inadequate patient education, and limited use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs). These findings underscore an urgent need to develop standardized protocols, enhance multidisciplinary collaboration, and promote digital health tools to improve the application and quality of SCC in China.