<p>Cancer survivorship has emerged as a focus of significant interest and study as progress has been made in early cancer detection, treatment modality refinement, and long-term patient survivorship. Despite improved survival across solid and haematological malignancies, a subset of cancer survivors will experience lasting physiological, psychological, and functional effects that negatively impact on their quality of life (QoL). A number of physiological factors play a role in determining QoL including interplay between autonomic nervous system (ANS), endocrine, immune and metabolic pathways, and behavioral response. Survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin&#39;s lymphoma, breast, pancreatic and gallbladder cancers are more likely to experience a number of problems in relation to quality-of-life including cancer-related fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, sleep disturbance, ongoing inflammation and depression, reduced function and the physiological mechanisms will be discussed and illustrated in relation to these conditions. New understanding of the roles of the neuroimmune system and psychophysiology of the organism now make the biological mechanisms of these symptoms crucial in improving the care provided for the cancer survivor. In this narrative review we consider the underlying physiology that is important for QoL of both haematological and solid tumor survivors with an example from ALL, Hodgkin&#39;s lymphoma, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and gallbladder cancer highlighting issues. A greater understanding of the mechanisms involved could help in the development of targeted therapies to manage specific symptoms and improve the experience and health of the survivor as well as developing novel biological markers of survivorship status.</p>