Beyond tumor biology: nursing interventions for psychological and immune health in cancer patients.

Cancer care requires an integrative approach that addresses psychological distress, immune dysfunction, and health disparities across global populations. Psychoneuroimmunology research reveals bidirectional links between psychological well-being, neural signaling, immune activity, and clinical outcomes, underscoring the need for nursing‑led holistic interventions. This review synthesizes evidence on the prevalence and impact of anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, and stress-mediated neuroendocrine pathways that suppress immune surveillance. It examines tumor-associated immune dysregulation, therapy-induced immune imbalance, and inflammation as a mechanistic bridge between emotional and physical health. Nursing-driven strategies including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, narrative care, social support, lifestyle counseling, nutrition, microbiome support, physical rehabilitation, and integrative practices demonstrate measurable benefits for resilience, immune stability, and treatment adherence. Emerging technologies such as AI-enabled telehealth expand the reach and personalization of oncology nursing pathways. Persistent barriers workload, training gaps, cultural differences, and limited resources require policy reform, multidisciplinary integration, and capacity-building. Future directions highlight precision nursing models utilizing biomarkers, digital analytics, and survivorship planning to deliver equitable, patient-centered psychological-immune oncology care.