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. 2006 Nov;52(11):1446-7.

Young adults' experiences with cancer: comments from patients and survivors

Baukje Bo Miedema  1 , Julie Easley, Ryan Hamilton
Affiliations

Young adults' experiences with cancer: comments from patients and survivors

Baukje Bo Miedema et al. Can Fam Physician. 2006 Nov.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To examine the experiences with cancer of adults diagnosed when between 20 and 35 years old.

Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Setting: Largest health care region in the province of New Brunswick.

Participants: Six men and 9 women cancer patients and survivors.

Method: Fifteen adults interviewed when between the ages of 20 and 43 representing a variety of cancers and stages of disease were recruited for this study. Interviews were guided by a set of open-ended questions and explored participants' experiences with cancer from initial presentation of symptoms through to survivorship issues.

Main findings: The most important clinical issue that emerged from the analysis was that participants' youth appeared to contribute to delays in diagnosis of cancer. These delays were attributed to either patients' or physicians' inaction. Some patients attributed their initial cancer symptoms to the adverse effects of alcohol or excessive partying; others feared a bad diagnosis and delayed seeking help. Family physicians frequently interpreted nonspecific symptoms as resulting from patients' lifestyle choices and were reluctant to consider a diagnosis of cancer. Several family physicians reportedly believed that persistent symptoms could not be the result of cancer because patients were too young.

Conclusion: Although cancer is relatively rare in young adults, family physicians need to include it in differential diagnoses. Both patients and physicians tend to minimize cancer symptoms in young adults. Delays in diagnosis might not affect health outcomes, but can cause distress to young adults with cancer.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer comment les adultes de 20 à 35 ans vivent le fait d’être confrontés à un diagnostic de cancer.

TYPE D’ÉTUDE: Étude qualitative à l’aide d’entrevues semi-structurées.

CONTEXTE: La région sanitaire la plus étendue du Nouveau-Brunswick.

PARTICIPANTS: Six hommes et 9 femmes atteints ou survivants d’un cancer.

MÉTHODE: Pour cette étude, 15 adultes représentant divers types de cancer à divers stades ont été interviewés alors qu’ils avaient entre 20 et 43 ans. Les entrevues étaient conduites à l’aide d’un ensemble de questions ouvertes; elles exploraient l’expérience vécue par les participants à partir des premiers symptômes jusqu’à la période de survie.

PRINCIPALES OBSERVATIONS: L’issue la plus importante révélée par l’analyse est que l’âge des participants semble contribuer à retarder le diagnostic du cancer. Ce retard pouvait être attribué à l’inaction du patient ou du médecin. Certains patients attribuaient les symptômes initiaux du cancer à trop d’alcool ou de sorties; d’autres la croyaient consultation, craignant le verdict. Les médecins de famille interprétaient souvent des symptômes non spécifiques comme résultant du mode de vie choisi par le patient, hésitant à envisager un diagnostic de cancer. Apparemment, plusieurs médecins croyaient que les symptômes persistants ne pouvaient être dus à un cancer, parce que le patient était trop jeune.

CONCLUSION: Même si le cancer est relativement rare chez le jeune adulte, le médecin de famille doit l’inclure dans le diagnostic différentiel. Autant le patient que le médecin ont tendance à minimiser les symptômes de cancer chez le jeune adulte. Même si un retard de diagnostic ne modifie pas nécessairement les conséquences pour la santé, il peut être source de détresse chez le jeune adulte qui a un cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared

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