Experiences of Adolescents and Young Adults Living With Advanced Cancer: An Integrative Review.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Knowledge about the experiences of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with advanced cancer may be limited. This review was conducted to examine the literature concerning this subject. LITERATURE SEARCH: A comprehensive search was conducted using CINAHL®, the Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, Embase®, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), and PubMed®. DATA EVALUATION: Each study was systematically assessed. An evidence table detailing key components was compiled. SYNTHESIS: There is a growing body of knowledge about the experiences of individuals with advanced cancer. However, insufficient evidence exists regarding the experiences of AYAs with advanced cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: The lack of knowledge about AYAs and how they experience living with advanced cancer requires additional research; this will lead to increased understanding of their challenges and more effective supportive interventions.