This article reviews the concept, current situation, assessment tools, influencing factors, and intervention measures of existential distress in cancer patients. The identification and intervention of existential distress in cancer patients are crucial for their quality of life and prognosis. In the future, in-depth research on existential distress in cancer patients should be conducted, research tools that are in line with Chinese culture should be developed, and intervention plans that are in line with the clinical environment in China should be constructed to improve the quality of psychological care for cancer patients.