Grief, Loss, and Bereavement in Cancer Care: A Psycho-Oncological Review

Abstract

When a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, grief does not wait for death to begin. It starts at that very moment and it extends far beyond the patient themselves, creeping into the lives of their families and caregivers as well. This review looks at grief in cancer care across the full illness trajectory, from the anticipatory grief that begins at diagnosis to the bereavement that can persist for years after a loss. The paper examines this through three theoretical frameworks: The Kübler-Ross Stage Model, the Dual Process Model, and Attachment Theory and how grief shows up differently in patients, families, and caregivers. Drawing on peer-reviewed research published between 2015 and 2026 in journals including JAMA Psychiatry, Psycho-Oncology, Palliative and Supportive Care, Healthcare, and the European Journal of Psychotraumatology. The intervention strategies reviewed include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, bereavement support groups, and Family-Focused Grief Therapy. The review aims to portray that grief in cancer care is central to the experience of illness, and it deserves to be treated that way.