Psychosocial issues in adolescents with cancer.
Cancer in adolescents is uncommon and when it occurs raises a number of unique challenges for both the patient and their families. Adolescence is a period of time of significant physical and emotional changes and a diagnosis of cancer during this time has a major impact on their psychological and physical development. In this review we will look at the psychosocial issues facing adolescents who have cancer. We will address adolescent development, issues related to informed consent and assent, initial responses to the diagnosis of cancer, quality of life and the experience of the adolescent with cancer, psychological adjustment, support systems, body image issues, sexuality, education, hope, and treatment compliance.
Abrams
Annah N
AN
Department of Child Psychiatry and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States. aabrams@partners.org
Hazen
Eric P
EP
Penson
Richard T
RT
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000379:methods*