This treatment has potential to provide patients with cancer treatment that isn't as harmful as chemotherapy and other traditional methods. (© Photographee.eu - stock.adobe.com)
Today, most cancers (about 80%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. More cancers, however, are being diagnosed in people during young and middle adulthood. Kate Middleton was only 42 when her cancer diagnosis was made public. “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman died from colorectal cancer at age 43. Earlier this year, Olivia Munn, 43, announced that she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
There is well-placed emphasis on early detection for all cancers. However, another area which deserves concentrated attention when it comes to younger patients is the psychological impact of developing cancer. There are specific and unique effects on mental health after a cancer diagnosis in young adulthood.
According to epidemiologist Ola Abdelhadi, PhD, at the University of California-Berkeley School of Public Health, young adults face disruptions to their direction, career, social relationships, and life planning when cancer strikes. Dr. Abdelhadi was diagnosed with cancers at ages 19 and 30. She stresses the need for specialized mental health care for these under-reported needs.
Studies show young and middle adulthood feature unique developmental tasks and challenges. Individuals may still be working on their education and building careers. They are often considering marriage and children. Some may not be as financially stable as they had hoped to be at that point.
One issue with cancer in younger adults is accurate, timely diagnosis. Doctors aren’t as likely to be expecting cancers in younger patients.
“Adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer often experience prolonged convoluted diagnostic pathways compared with children and older adults,” according to the authors of a study in the British Journal of Cancer.
The longer it takes to get a diagnosis, they report, the greater the risks for impaired quality of life, with complications such as depression and anxiety.
The financial toll of cancer can be great, according to multiple reports. According to Minnesota Oncology, more than 20% of young cancer survivors lack money for necessities. Half accumulate credit card debt. According to a report in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice, young survivors also lag behind their peers in the workplace and financially.
Even though cancer takes a unique and profound toll on younger adults, they may also have positive developmental experiences. Some of these are reflected in choosing not to work 60-hour weeks, learning to set boundaries, and committing to taking better care of their health.
The following interventions can support younger adults during and after their battles with cancer:
1. Peer Support
It’s impossible to overstate the value of peer support during difficult life events. It eases a sense of isolation. There is a peer-support program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, which offers a spectrum of programming, including educational and recreational support.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
There is an experimental program at the teen and Young Adult Oncology Program at Duke University, administrated by Caroline Dorfman, PhD. It is a group-based intervention delivered using videoconferencing. They address issues such as body image, independence, and life planning. The CBT helps patients develop coping strategies, as well as manage their stressful thoughts and emotions.
3. Acceptance Commitment Therapy
Patients younger than 40 years of age experience fear of recurrence more often than older patients. They often have more milestones they hope to cross and more life to disrupt. This is a new type of intervention which teaches mindfulness and consistency with personal values.
4. Meaning-Centered Therapy
Meaning-centered psychotherapy has been developed by psychiatrist William Breitbart, MD, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York. It focuses on strengthening patients’ sense of purpose and meaning and has been shown to decrease spiritual and psychological distress.
In one study in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, patients between 17 and 36 participated in a 10-week program in which they posted photos on social media with related thoughts about “How has cancer changed who I am.” These young patients had significantly fewer symptoms of depression and a better quality of life.
5. Mindfulness
Researchers at UCLA found that a six-week mindfulness group eased physical and emotional discomfort. Their patients experienced fewer symptoms of depression and stress. There were positive changes in their immune systems and subjective sense of well-being.
