Impact of cancer on school, work, and financial independence among adolescents and young adults

Abstract

Background: For adolescents and young adults (AYAs), the diagnosis of cancer can impede social development, especially with respect to education, employment, and financial independence. However, there are limited quantitative data on the extent and trajectory of life disruptions during cancer treatment for AYA patients. Methods: This was a longitudinal, prospective, questionnaire-based cohort study of 145 AYA patients with cancer aged 15 to 29 years who were treated at a large academic cancer center. Questionnaires were administered shortly after diagnosis and 4 and 12 months after diagnosis. Results: Although half of the participants lived with their parents 6 months before diagnosis, 61% lived with their parents after diagnosis (P =.0002 vs 6 months before diagnosis), with a similar proportion reported to be living with their parents 4 months after diagnosis (61%; P =.001) and 55% doing so 12 months after diagnosis (P =.07). Before diagnosis, 38% of the patients were not attending school. After diagnosis, that proportion rose to 61% (P