title: "Cancer sucks," and other ponderings by adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
abstract: As part of the National Cancer Institute's AYA HOPE study, 296 adolescent and young adults (AYAs) completed an open-ended survey item asking them to describe their medical care or experience with cancer. Patient, provider, and system-level characteristics all appear to influence AYAs' perceptions of their medical care. Participants attributed levels of satisfaction with care to the availability and communication of information, the management of side-effects, and the expediency and flexibility of treatments. Struggles with health insurance and finances were evident. Findings contribute to a better understanding of AYAs' cancer treatment experiences and will inform improvements to oncology care for this population.
authors.affiliation: a University of Michigan School of Social Work , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zebrack
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Theresa H M
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Keegan
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Ashley Wilder
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult