title: Understanding the experiences of adolescents and young adults with cancer: A meta-synthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies exploring experiences of young cancer patients to identify the overarching concepts that inform future service and research directions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted, and 51 articles published between January 2004 and March 2014 were collected via CINAHL, Medline and PsycINFO databases. Deductive thematic analysis was conducted to identify major themes, guided by Hermeneutic notions on interpretation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cancer impacted a wide range of life domains. These impacts were interconnected and bi-directional. The meanings of these impacts were closely related to their unique developmental needs and a social position as youth. Emotional struggles during these radical changes were evident, but efforts to make sense of their experiences and find meaning pervaded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the interrelated nature of the cancer challenges young cancer patients experience, there needs to be an emphasis on conducting studies which further refine our understanding of these relationships. This can help to structure effective youth cancer services. Generic informational resources and support services should be tailored so that they have relevance to the young person's life context. The treating team has an important role in fostering young patients' ability to make sense of their experiences by providing developmentally-relevant psychosocial support.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Wollongong, Building 41, 215 Northfields Ave, Keiraville, NSW, Australia; Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, 88 Mallett Street, Camperdown NSW, Australia. Electronic address: bora@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, 88 Mallett Street, Camperdown NSW, Australia; Cancer Nursing Research Unit, Level 6 North, The Chris O'Brien Life house, 119-143 Missenden Road, Camperdown NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Cancer Nursing Research Unit, Level 6 North, The Chris O'Brien Life house, 119-143 Missenden Road, Camperdown NSW, Australia; Research & Youth Cancer Services, CanTeen Australia, 75 King Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Pandora
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Cancer; Experience; Meta-synthesis; Neoplasms; Qualitative research; Young adult