Following receipt of the journal’s latest impact score, it seemed that it would be a useful exercise to take a look at publications that made it through the peer review process since the inception of the journal. Such a review of content could help inform future efforts at dissemination of information to improve the lives of cancer survivors over the long run. The Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice (JCSU) differs from most journals related to cancer in that it exclusively focuses on the problems/challenges faced by those following their primary treatment for a cancer-related illness. It is also targeted at health care providers and their efforts to optimize primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of long-term and late effects in these patients. The other major difference between most well-established journals related to oncology, public health, health services, and JCSU is that these other journals tend to be primarily discipline specific, while JCSU was designed from the onset to be multidisciplinary (Table 1).

The primary target groups for JCSU include oncologists, primary care physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, those in health services, psychosocial oncologists, clinical health psychologists, those in behavioral medicine, social workers, physicians and nurses in rehabilitation medicine, physical therapists, occupational therapists, vocational counselors, those using complimentary approaches to health care, those who can impact health systems policy, as well as cancer survivors and their families. This editorial provides a brief review of content published in the initial years of JCSU. The summary is intended to provide a check on how well the journal is responding to its original mission and to help identify problem areas to consider in the future.

The need to expand knowledge related to many cancer types

Since the inception of JCSU in 2007, investigations have focused on cancer types ranging from breast cancer to brain tumors and varied in severity of pathology. Figure 1 provides a general breakdown of cancer types published in JCSU to date. The majority of studies have focused on breast cancer. Recognizing the importance of addressing health care needs of many types of cancer survivors, JCSU aims to publish studies representing a broader spectrum of cancer types in the future. We also observed that the journal has covered papers related to the adult cancer survivor, including both the young adult survivor of childhood cancer and the young adult cancer survivor. While JCSU will continue to publish studies in these age groups, given the growth in the aging population and the link between age and cancer etiology, papers that address the challenges of older cancer survivors (65 or older) will also represent a priority.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Distribution of cancer types published in JCSU. *n = 2 for lung, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cervical; n = 1 for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sarcoma, bone, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, kidney, hematological

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The need to increase global reach

The number of manuscripts submitted has increased over fivefold since the first issue of the journal, concurrent with a decline in the acceptance rate from 49 to 21 % (see Fig. 2). While the majority (78 %) of these papers originated from North America, many other countries contributed to the journal: Norway (5 %), Australia (4 %), the Netherlands (3 %), the UK (3 %), Finland (1 %), Germany (1 %), Ireland (1 %), and a combined total of 4 % from Belgium, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan.

Fig. 2
figure 2

JCSU article disposition by year

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Due to the international nature of cancer survivorship concerns, JCSU will continue its interest in publishing research from many countries. To facilitate this goal, authors whose native language is not English may want to consider an English language copy editor to help with the final preparation of a manuscript (e.g., http://www.springer.com/authors/journal+authors/helpdesk?SGWID=0-1723213-12-817308-0). This has become a practical option for non-English-speaking authors who think they can use some help to prepare their manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed English-language journal.

The need to continue to represent several types of methodologies

Over the past 7 years, accepted publications have largely featured original research and meta-analyses. Over half of all studies have been cross-sectional in design; however, longitudinal studies did account for a third of all designs (see Table 2). Most papers have used quantitative methods, but qualitative or mixed methods have been used as well. Ten percent of publications have been literature reviews. Within this group, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have greatly outnumbered non-systematic (general) reviews. Intervention studies accounted for 10 % of all articles, with the majority of these being randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Seventy-one percent of published papers (n = 212) used research methodology that would dictate inclusion of a control or comparison group; however, 24 % of these articles (n = 50) did not include one of these groups.

Table 1 General topic areas published in JCSU
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Table 2 Distribution of study methodologies published in JCSU
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JCSU aims to publish scientifically rigorous studies, including those with appropriate control and/or comparison groups, where dictated. The journal will continue to publish studies across a wide range of methodologies. However, the following types of studies are preferred: (1) quantitative studies; (2) systematic reviews that facilitate “outside the box” thinking and can inform health, health care, function, and well-being in the short run and long into the future; (3) qualitative studies that provide information on new approaches to health care or self-management; (4) prospective studies to identify risk and protective factors of problems experienced by various types of cancer survivors; and (5) long-term evaluation of the effects of several types of innovative interventions to improve health, healthcare, function, and well-being. JCSU is also interested in publications that can inform us regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of these innovative approaches. That is, this journal will accept intervention studies other than RCTs, as long as an appropriate control group is included. While evidence-based information is our goal, we also cannot wait until the perfect RCT on a new approach is reported. We are well aware of the process that determines evidence, but let us not forget that the acceptance of new approaches for practice is often developed through an iterative process.

The need for a more precise definition of cancer survivor

As was the case when choosing the title for this journal, the term “cancer survivor” continues to be a source of controversy. Because of this continued concern, we reviewed how authors defined cancer survivor (i.e., case definition) in their paper. Reflecting the diversity of opinions in the field of cancer survivorship, the case definition of survivor has varied across publications. Definitions in the majority of publications met the criteria of post primary treatment. However, the case definition that had been used in many publications was based on number of months post diagnosis, rather than a statement providing explicit times post primary cancer treatment. Given the existence of multiple definitions of “cancer survivor,” future JCSU publications must provide a detailed case definition of cancer survivor in the methods section of the submission that includes time post primary cancer treatment. It is expected that papers will target those post primary treatment. This is particularly important given the potential variation in the temporal course of problems experienced by cancer survivors following primary treatment for cancer. The exact time from primary treatment of first, recurrent, or new cancers can also provide more specific knowledge of what can be expected over the long term and what we can target for improved primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention over time. Identification of variables that contribute to these temporal changes will hopefully lead to improved health and self-care efforts.

The need to continue to focus on health, health care, function, and well-being

Topic categories covered in JCSU can be broken down into the following general categories: health, health behavior, health services, function, well-being, diversity, research recruitment/research-related policy, measurement tools, and those that include two topics (articles where the primary focus is on two of these categories). The majority of publications to date have addressed areas related to the following: health services, health behavior, health, or function, with a minority covering well-being (see Table 1).

Papers related to “health” include topics ranging from comorbid conditions, long-term health, health-related quality of life, risk factors for specific health outcomes, and/or fertility. Publications in the “health behavior” category include studies on lifestyle, self-examination, and observed or self-reported health behavior (e.g., physical activity, smoking, nutrition). Papers in the “health services” category focus on health care providers, survivorship clinics, and survivor care plans. Publications in the “function” category are those that investigate observable or self-reported function (e.g., social, occupational, physical, cognitive, sexual, breast-feeding), whereas publications in the “well-being” category focus on psychological health, quality of life, and spirituality. Other topics include the following: “diversity” (papers focusing on ethnic minorities and/or cultural differences), “research recruitment/research-related policy” (papers on recruitment methods or involvement of cancer survivors in the research review process), and “measurement tools” (papers covering the development or validation of a measurement tool).

Health behavior research has been a major focus of JCSU since its onset. It will continue to represent a priority because of the central role it can play in improving the cancer survivor’s health, function, and well-being following cancer treatment. There is a strong need for research on effective approaches to improve everyday healthcare practice and self-care efforts that seek to initiate, reinitiate (if needed), and/or maintain these health behaviors. More prospective studies are needed in this area, as well. Appendix Table 3 provides a summary of several of the observations above and their implications for future submissions.

Moving forward

The steady growth of JCSU is clear. However, along with this growth, there must be a strong commitment to continuous improvement as reflected by periodic review of topics, innovativeness, scientific and conceptual rigor, and practical need. This review also allowed us to reflect on questions that remain unanswered (Appendix Table 4). The lives of many continue to be impacted by cancer and its treatment. This journal remains committed to provide an evidence base that can help improve these lives.