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. We conducted an in-depth qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 43 young people who had developed cancer aged 16 to 39 years and were either within 6 months of diagnosis or 3–5 years after treatment had ended. Framework analysis identified three themes: the emotional impact of cancer (expressed through anxiety, anger, and fear of recurrence); personal barriers to support through avoidance; and support to improve mental health through mental health services or adolescent and young adult treatment teams. We showed the barriers young people have to access care, particularly participant avoidance of support. Interrupting this process to better support young people and provide them with flexible, adaptable, consistent, long-term psychological support has the potential to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.
青少年及年轻成年人在确诊癌症后经历的生命历程断裂，可能影响多个重要心理社会领域，包括家庭关系、同伴关系、性心理发展、职业与学业轨迹以及身心状态。尽管现有研究已证实癌症对此年龄段人群的生理影响，但其对情绪健康的冲击，特别是阻碍年轻人获取帮助与支持的因素，目前认知仍显不足。本研究旨在深入探究年轻人对癌症诊断、治疗过程的体验，疾病带来的心理影响，以及他们能够或希望获取的心理健康支持资源。 我们采用半结构化访谈法对43名16-39岁的癌症患者开展深度质性研究，受访者均处于确诊后6个月内或治疗结束3-5年期间。通过框架分析法提炼出三大主题：癌症引发的情绪冲击（表现为焦虑、愤怒及复发恐惧）；通过回避行为形成的个人支持障碍；通过心理健康服务或青少年肿瘤专科团队获得的心理健康支持。研究揭示了年轻人获取照护时面临的多重障碍，特别是参与者主动回避支持的现象。打破这种回避循环，为年轻人提供灵活、可调整、持续且长期的心理支持，将有望显著提升他们的生活质量与健康福祉。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家