Eden R Brauer1,2, Huibrie C Pieters3, Patricia A Ganz1,2, Wendy Landier4, Carol Pavlish3, MarySue V Heilemann3. 1. 1 Center for Cancer Prevention & Control Research, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center , Los Angeles, California. 2. 2 UCLA Fielding School of Public Health , Los Angeles, California. 3. 3 UCLA School of Nursing , Los Angeles, California. 4. 4 University of Alabama at Birmingham Schools of Medicine and Nursing , Birmingham, Alabama.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Resuming normal activities, such as work and school, is an important dimension of psychosocial recovery in cancer survivorship. Minimal data exist regarding adolescents or young adults' experiences of returning to school or work after cancer. The purpose of this study was to explore the processes of resuming work and school among adolescents and young adults after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 adolescents and young adults, who were 15-29 years when they underwent HCT and 6-60 months post-transplant at study enrollment. Interview transcripts were systematically analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology. RESULTS: Participants described the context in which they attempted to return to work or school, specific challenges they faced, and strategies they developed in these environments. Feeling left behind from their peers and their pre-diagnosis selves, participants described "rushing" back to school and work impulsively, taking on too much too quickly while facing overwhelming physical and cognitive demands. Factors motivating this sense of urgency as well as barriers to successful and sustainable reentry in these settings are also addressed. CONCLUSION: Findings are discussed in the context of important opportunities for clinical management, age-appropriate interventions, and implications for future research. A better understanding of psychosocial late effects, specifically related to school and work trajectories after cancer, is critical to survivorship care for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
PURPOSE: Resuming normal activities, such as work and school, is an important dimension of psychosocial recovery in cancer survivorship. Minimal data exist regarding adolescents or young adults' experiences of returning to school or work after cancer. The purpose of this study was to explore the processes of resuming work and school among adolescents and young adults after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 adolescents and young adults, who were 15-29 years when they underwent HCT and 6-60 months post-transplant at study enrollment. Interview transcripts were systematically analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology. RESULTS:Participants described the context in which they attempted to return to work or school, specific challenges they faced, and strategies they developed in these environments. Feeling left behind from their peers and their pre-diagnosis selves, participants described "rushing" back to school and work impulsively, taking on too much too quickly while facing overwhelming physical and cognitive demands. Factors motivating this sense of urgency as well as barriers to successful and sustainable reentry in these settings are also addressed. CONCLUSION: Findings are discussed in the context of important opportunities for clinical management, age-appropriate interventions, and implications for future research. A better understanding of psychosocial late effects, specifically related to school and work trajectories after cancer, is critical to survivorship care for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
Entities:
Keywords:
hematopoietic cell transplantation; school; survivorship; work
Authors: Eva Johansson; Joacim Larsen; Thérèse Schempp; Linnea Jonsson; Jeanette Winterling Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2011-11-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Julienne E Bower; Kate Bak; Ann Berger; William Breitbart; Carmelita P Escalante; Patricia A Ganz; Hester Hill Schnipper; Christina Lacchetti; Jennifer A Ligibel; Gary H Lyman; Mohammed S Ogaily; William F Pirl; Paul B Jacobsen Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2014-04-14 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Eleshia J Morrison; Shawna L Ehlers; Carrie A Bronars; Christi A Patten; Tabetha A Brockman; James R Cerhan; William J Hogan; Shahrukh K Hashmi; Dennis A Gastineau Journal: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant Date: 2016-05-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Gemma Dyer; Nicole Gilroy; Jennifer Bradford; Lisa Brice; Masura Kabir; Matt Greenwood; Stephen R Larsen; John Moore; Mark Hertzberg; John Kwan; Louisa Brown; Megan Hogg; Gillian Huang; Jeff Tan; Christopher Ward; Ian Kerridge Journal: Br J Haematol Date: 2015-12-21 Impact factor: 6.998
Authors: Jenny W Y Pang; Debra L Friedman; John A Whitton; Marilyn Stovall; Ann C Mertens; Leslie L Robison; Noel S Weiss Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 3.838
Authors: Eden Brauer; Huibrie C Pieters; Patricia A Ganz; Wendy Landier; Carol Pavlish; MarySue V Heilemann Journal: Oncol Nurs Forum Date: 2018-03-01 Impact factor: 2.172
Authors: Casey A Walsh; Jean C Yi; Abby R Rosenberg; Marie-Laure V Crouch; Wendy M Leisenring; Karen L Syrjala Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2020-08-13 Impact factor: 3.894