In a world where we can measure nearly everything—from step counts to blood pressure—it’s easy to overlook one of the most powerful predictors of health: human connection.
For people living with and beyond cancer, relationships often shift after diagnosis. Some friends draw closer; others fade away. Fatigue, anxiety, and physical changes can make socializing harder. Even clinicians can feel disconnected, caught between compassion fatigue and the emotional weight of caring for others.
Although gaps remain in research exploring the full scope of connectedness, current studies indicate that strong social relationships are associated with improved cancer survival, while loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of mortality. (Holt-Lunstad, 2015). These effects are seen across biological, psychological, and behavioral pathways.
Loneliness can amplify inflammation and stress responses, while some research indicates that having strong social support is associated with lower inflammatory markers, better immune regulation, and improved survival (Lutgendorf, 2015).
From Connection to Connectedness
The American College of Lifestyle Medicine recently reframed the traditional pillar of “social connection” as connectedness—a broader concept that includes connection to others, self, and purpose.
In our fast-paced, achievement-driven world, we often define ourselves by titles, credentials, or roles. But when these change—as they often do after a cancer diagnosis or during life transitions—it’s easy to lose sight of who we are beneath them. So, ask yourself: Who are you—beyond the CV, beyond the diagnosis, beyond the labels?
As humans, we are tribal by design. Early communities—our “first healthcare systems”—were built on shared survival, mutual aid, and belonging. Connection was our safety net. For the survivor community, this is one of the core reasons support groups exist. Unlike traditional social or religious gatherings formed around shared interests or faith, these groups form around shared vulnerability. No one wants to join this “club,” yet within it, people find what’s been missing in modern life: understanding, empathy, and belonging.
For clinicians and care teams, referrals to social work or cancer support groups are routine—but do we pause long enough to ask what connection truly means to the individual? What are they seeking? Who are they becoming?
In Japanese culture, there’s a beautiful concept called Ikigai (生きがい)—translated as “reason for being.” It represents the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what gives you meaning. Finding one’s Ikigai reconnects the outer world of doing with the inner world of being. For many living with and beyond cancer, rediscovering Ikigai—through relationships, creativity, or service—can reignite a sense of purpose and belonging.
Connection, then, isn’t just about others. It’s about coming home to yourself.
The Science of Connection
Connection is not just comforting—it’s biological. Loneliness activates stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine, which heighten inflammation and suppress immune function (Cole, 2019). In contrast, individuals satisfied with their social support show lower inflammatory markers and stronger immune regulation (Lutgendorf, 2015).
Recent research makes the survival link impossible to ignore: loneliness and social isolation increase both all-cause and cancer-specific mortality (Holt-Lunstad, 2015; Meng, 2025). Meta-analyses estimate a 34% higher risk of death from any cause and an 11% higher risk of cancer-related death among individuals experiencing loneliness or social isolation. Isolation can also quietly shape daily habits—less movement, more processed foods, and often, increased alcohol intake.
In April 2024, a landmark study from the American Cancer Society published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (JNCCN) found that cancer survivors reporting high levels of loneliness had a 67% greater risk of death compared to those with low or no loneliness—even after adjusting for other health and social factors (Zhao, 2024).
Calls for loneliness screening and integrated psychosocial care are important—but healing can’t wait for policy. We can begin building connection now, one relationship, one conversation, one act of belonging at a time.
Strengthening Belonging: Small Steps That Matter
For Individuals Living With and Beyond Cancer
- Start with one connection. Reach out to one person who brings energy, not exhaustion. Consistency matters more than size of your network.
- Join a circle of understanding. Peer and survivor support groups offer the rare combination of empathy and accountability—two ingredients proven to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life.
- Move together. Shared movement—whether a walk, yoga class, or light resistance training—amplifies two pillars at once: physical and social health.
- Rediscover your Ikigai. Reflect on what gives your days meaning. What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need from you right now? Small daily actions toward purpose rebuild identity and hope.
- Practice gratitude and listening. Connection deepens when we both feel seen and see others. Try ending your day by acknowledging one person or moment that made you feel less alone.
For Clinicians and Care Teams
- Screen for loneliness and isolation. Ask: “Who are your supports right now?” or “Where do you feel most connected?” Treat connection like a vital sign.
- Prescribe community. Refer to group-based programs—exercise, mindfulness, survivorship navigation—and normalize this as part of treatment.
- Collaborate intentionally. Partner with social work, patient navigators, and community programs to expand the circle of care.
Model connectedness. Clinician well-being depends on belonging too. Regular team check-ins and peer mentoring build the resilience we hope to model for patients.
For Systems and Communities
- Integrate psychosocial care. Embed loneliness screening and support navigation within cancer pathways.
- Address the social determinants of connection. Transportation, housing, and economic stability all shape the capacity to belong.
- Invest in community infrastructure. Wellness centers, survivorship hubs, and online networks turn “support” into accessible practice.
Connection is not a soft skill—it’s a survival factor. But connectedness goes deeper than community—it begins with self. Finding your Ikigai—your reason for being—anchors you to meaning, purpose, and resilience.
For those living with and beyond cancer, and for those who care for them, the message is the same: healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens together.
Written by Sami Mansfield
References
1. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):227-237. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25910392/
2. Lutgendorf SK, Andersen BL. Biobehavioral approaches to cancer progression and survival: Mechanisms and interventions. Am Psychol. 2015;70(2):186-197. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25730724/
3. Cole SW. The Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity. Curr Opin Behav Sci. 2019;28:31-37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31592179/
4. Meng M, Ma Z, Zhou H, et al. The impact of social relationships on the risk of stroke and post-stroke mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):2403. Published 2024 Sep 4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39232685/
5. Zhao J, Reese JB, Han X, Yabroff KR. Loneliness and Mortality Risk Among Cancer Survivors in the United States: A Retrospective, Longitudinal Study. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2024;22(4):244-248. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38663443/
You Can Also Read
More Than a Feeling: How Stress Shapes Cancer and Healing – Sami Mansfield
Small Steps, Big Living – A Lifestyle Medicine Approach to Cancer Survivorship: Sami Mansfield
Small Steps, Big Living: Why Movement is Medicine – Sami Mansfield
Small Steps, Big Living: Why What You Don’t Do Matters – Sami Mansfield
