“It Changed Our Outlook on How We Want to Live”: Cancer as a Transformative Health Experience for Young Adult Survivors and Their Family Members

Abstract

Although young adult cancer survivors (YACSs) and their families face unique psychosocial and health-related challenges related to cancer, little is known about how the illness experience of cancer may positively transform their mental, physical, and social well-being following primary treatment. We conducted individual qualitative interviews with 30 YACSs and 21 of their family members. Participants described positive transformations as (a) perspective shifts on health and risk, (b) behavior changes toward more proactive healthy living, and (c) opportunities for more open communication about wellness. Few participants reported little to no transformation based on a fatalistic view of their diagnosis. Our findings illuminate important implications for health promotion and support in this population, including the role health care providers can play following primary treatment. We also discuss how YACSs can serve as important advocates for others and the need for more work exploring how and why positive illness transformations take place.

Emotional approach coping among young adults with cancer: Relationships with psychological distress, posttraumatic growth, and resilience

“…Our findings for EP being positively associated with resilience and PTG might also reflect a focus on the cancer experience as a transformative experience, a tangible change in relation to some sort of catalyst (e.g., changes experienced in postillness life), 34 that is fostered by an active attempt to acknowledge, explore, and understand one's emotions. Previous research among young adults with cancer has suggested that some young adults experience cancer as a positive transformative experience while others do not, often taking a fatalistic view of their cancer experience 35 . Drawing on current study findings fostering and encouraging EP may be one avenue to further understand how young adults restructure their cancer experience and themselves in positive ways.…”

“…Previous research among young adults with cancer has suggested that some young adults experience cancer as a positive transformative experience while others do not, often taking a fatalistic view of their cancer experience. 35 Drawing on current study findings fostering and encouraging EP may be one avenue to further understand how young adults restructure their cancer experience and themselves in positive ways.…”

“Your Body Is Not At All Where You Left It”: Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors’ Experiences Transitioning Back Into Physical Activity After Treatment

“…Similar to previous work (Chisholm, 2020;Head & Iannarino, 2019;Petrella et al, 2020;Wu et al, 2015), AYAs described being motivated to engage in PA to manage changes in body appearance and function, physical and mental health, and one's routine, independence, and sense of normalcy. Notably, the previously active AYAs were highly invested in their body's appearance and weight, which was integral to their decision to be active after treatment.…”

Post-Treatment Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

“…27 Meme kanseri tedavisini tamamlamış bireylerle yürütülen diğer nitel çalışmalarda da kanserden sağ kalan bireylerin sağlığa zararlı alışkanlıklarından kurtuldukları, sağlıklı yaşam biçimi davranışlarını benimsedikleri bildirilmiş, bireylerin tedavi sonrası süreçte hiçbir şeyi ertelemedikleri ve stresten uzak kalmaya çalıştıkları rapor edilmiştir. 19,27,29 Bu araştırmada katılımcılar, olaylara verdikleri duygusal tepkilerin değiştiğini, eskiye göre daha sinirli ve duygusal olduklarını ve daha kolay ağlayabildiklerini ifade etmişlerdir. Literatürde tedavi sonrası dönemde meme kanserli bireylerin, psiko-sosyal iyilik hâlinin etkilendiği ve duygu durumlarında değişim yaşayabildikleri bildirilmiştir.…”