Fifteen participants with varying cancer types and stages discussed their views on as a potential solution for psychosocial suffering.
Participants expressed cautious optimism about psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for addressing related to cancer.
Four key themes emerged from the discussions: attitudes towards psychedelics, societal influences, systemic barriers, and specific psychosocial needs.
Participants highlighted unmet psychosocial needs in conventional care, particularly after treatment and in advanced cancer stages.
Concerns about safety, access, and stigma were significant, indicating challenges to implementing PAT in oncology.
Effective integration of PAT into cancer care may require addressing structural barriers and focusing on a holistic understanding of serious illness.
Simplified
People living with cancer (PLWC) often face profound that is insufficiently addressed by conventional psychosocial supports. This qualitative study explored PLWC's attitudes, beliefs, and experiences regarding (PAT) as a novel approach to addressing psychosocial suffering, particularly existential distress. Fifteen participants with varying cancer types and stages were recruited from a national survey. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior. Four key themes were identified: (1) Cautious Optimism and Substance-Specific Attitudes Toward Psychedelics reflected varied knowledge, openness, and perceptions of specific agents; (2) Relational and Societal Influences: Stigma, Support, and Cultural Framing; (3) Structural and Systemic Barriers: Cost, Legality, Provider Attitudes, and Unequal Access; and (4) Cancer Context and Psychosocial Needs: Seeking Relief from Existential and Emotional Distress captured the emotional, spiritual, and existential dimensions of living with and beyond cancer. Participants expressed cautious optimism about PAT, driven by unmet needs in conventional care, particularly after active treatment and at advanced stages of cancer, where existential and spiritual concerns often go unaddressed. PAT was seen as a potential adjunct that could meaningfully engage with suffering beyond symptom management. However, concerns about safety, access, and stigma underscore the need for culturally responsive, patient-informed, and equity-focused implementation strategies. Integrating PAT into oncology will require dismantling structural barriers and shifting toward a model of care that embraces the full human experience of serious illness.
Key numbers
80%
Participant Support for
Of the 15 participants, 80% were supportive of .
60%
Participant Experience with Psychedelics
60% of participants reported personal experience with psychedelics.
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Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
