Supportive Care in What? Myths and Misconceptions That Prevent the Provision of Excellent Cancer Care

Supportive cancer care focuses on the prevention and management of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment, with the aim of preserving quality of life, physical functioning, social and vocational well-being, treatment adherence, and survival. As cancer survival rates improve and poor-quality survivorship has become increasingly recognized, supportive care has become more important than ever, forming the basis of compassionate care that places the person, not their cancer, at the center of their treatment. Despite its proven benefits, supportive care remains undervalued, inconsistently delivered, and poorly integrated into routine oncology practices. The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) brings together global leaders in this field. In this commentary, MASCC leaders seek to clarify the purpose of supportive care, challenge common myths and barriers, and highlight how it can and should be embedded in modern cancer care. This remains essential in the era of novel therapies, where treatment-related toxicities are not eliminated, but instead differ in their etiology and clinical presentation, reinforcing the ongoing need for innovation in the design and delivery of supportive care.