The biographical disruption that occurs in adolescents and young adults following a cancer diagnosis can affect various important psychosocial domains including relationships with family and friends, sexual development, vocational and educational trajectories, and physical and emotional wellbeing. While there is evidence of the physical impact of cancer during this period, less is known about the impact on emotional wellbeing and especially on the barriers for young people accessing help and support. We aimed to obtain a more in-depth understanding of young people's experiences of their diagnosis, treatment, psychological impact, and range of resources they could or wanted to access for their mental health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Adolesc Young Adult Oncol
October 2023
Youth support coordinators (YSCs) provide youth-focused psychosocial support to teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer, within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in National Health Service (NHS) specialist cancer environments. This action research project aimed to provide insight into the work of YSCs with TYA with cancer, within MDTs in clinical settings, and to develop a knowledge and skill framework for YSCs. An action research approach was taken involving two focus groups, with Health Care Professionals ( = 7) and TYA with cancer ( = 7), and a questionnaire with YSCs ( = 23).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is well recognised that adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer have inequitable access to oncology services that provide expert cancer care and consider their unique needs. Subsequently, survival gains in this patient population have improved only modestly compared with older adults and children with cancer. In 2015, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) established the joint Cancer in AYA Working Group in order to increase awareness among adult and paediatric oncology communities, enhance knowledge on specific issues in AYA and ultimately improve the standard of care for AYA with cancer across Europe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Many health professionals working with teenage and young adult cancer patients (TYA-HPs) do not provide advice on physical activity, dietary intake, smoking cessation, and alcohol consumption as part of routine cancer care.
Objective: The aim of this study was to understand TYA-HPs' perspectives on the provision of health behavior advice and preferences on an intervention to help develop their health promotion skills.
Methods: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 26 TYA-HPs (12 nurses, 8 clinicians, and 6 allied health professionals) whose average time working with teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer patients was 8 years.
Background: The end of active treatment is a period of high stress for young people with cancer, but limited literature exists about their information and support needs during this phase. This study aimed to understand the needs of young people with cancer, how these needs are currently being met, and how best to provide information and support at the end of active treatment.
Methods: This was a multi-stage, mixed methods study exploring the end of treatment experience from the perspectives of young people, and the healthcare professionals caring for them.