Challenges in Identifying Suicide Risk in Oncology Care: Implications for Nursing Practice Based on Two Case Reports

Semin Oncol Nurs. 2026 Jul 6:152297. doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2026.152297. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Suicide risk among cancer patients is higher than in the general population, yet suicidality in oncology settings may remain difficult to recognize. Psychological distress is often intertwined with physical illness, functional decline, and existential suffering, making warning signs subtle and ambiguous. Nurses may be well positioned to recognize early indicators of psychological vulnerability. This study aimed to explore how suicide risk in oncology patients may remain insufficiently recognized in clinical practice and to identify nursing-relevant challenges and learning points through two forensic case reports.

METHODS: This qualitative case report describes two male patients with malignant disease who died by suicide while receiving active medical and nursing care in inpatient oncology and home-based community care settings. Data were collected retrospectively from forensic autopsy reports, medical and nursing records, family interviews, and clinical documentation. A systematic thematic analysis focused on psychosocial context, communication patterns, mental health aspects, care trajectories, and circumstances preceding death.

RESULTS: The two cases demonstrated markedly different expressions of suicidality. The younger patient exhibited visible emotional distress, indirect references to death, and impulsive behavior, whereas the older patient carried out a planned suicide characterized by emotional restraint, preserved social functioning, and unspoken suffering related to dignity and loss of autonomy. In both cases, distress appeared embedded within illness-related decline and existential burden, while opportunities for deeper psychosocial assessment and intervention remained limited.

CONCLUSIONS: These cases highlight the importance of psychosocial awareness, sensitive communication, and holistic nursing assessment in oncology care, particularly in patients experiencing functional decline and dignity-related distress.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: For nurses, the ability to recognize and gently explore existential distress may be as important as identifying overt psychiatric symptoms. Compassionate and direct conversations about emotional suffering or thoughts about death may create space for disclosure, support, and timely referral.

PMID:42409705 | DOI:10.1016/j.soncn.2026.152297