Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: A Biopsychosocial Approach

Abstract

(from the chapter) This chapter presents a biopsychosocial approach to adolescents and young adults with cancer. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients often fall through a schism between pediatric oncology and adult oncology, and, as a result of the disjuncture between these two worlds, bear the brunt of limited access to clinical trials and decreased quality of care. Neither the pediatric nor the adult models of care are ideally suited to the complex psychosocial needs of AYA patients. A comprehensive, multi-pronged effort is required lo bridge the gap in the psychosocial care of AYA patients, to provide AYAs with the attention they require, and ultimately lo eliminate the observed disparities in outcomes and supportive care services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).