Adolescence & cancer

  • Ascensión Bellver Pérez USSR Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset de Valencia. Universitat de València.
  • Helade Verdet Martínez Departamento Salud La Fe de Valencia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_PSIC.2015.v12.n1.48909
Keywords: Cancer, adolescent, psychological adjustment, psychological intervention.

Abstract

Adolescence covers from the 15 to the 19 years of age, is a period of transition in the development from childhood to adult life. The appearance of youth changes as a result of the hormonal events of puberty. At this stage, they incorporate a new look and there is a search for their sense of identity. Adolescent cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental mortality. Adolescence is a significant period of physical and emotional changes and the diagnosis of cancer during this time has an important impact on their psychological and physical development.

The aim is to carry out a literature review of 80 most relevant articles published during the last years in the literature associated with adolescents with cancer. The literature review has been made in computerised databases PubMed, PsycINFOs.

This review describes the psychosocial issues faced by teens with cancer: problems of development, initial responses to the diagnosis, psychological adjustment, quality of life and adverse cancer sequelae, problems with body image, sexuality and the compliance and treatment adherence.

Conclusions: The lack of personal resources or life experiences that might allow them to cope with and make sense of the many potential problems that are inherent to cancer, and sometimes there are not in a period of change and personal development. The article aims to pay attention on the need of making specialised units in treatment of adolescents with multidisciplinary specialists, which ones were specialized in this complex period of development and that include mental health professionals.

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Published
2015-04-20
How to Cite
Bellver Pérez A. y Verdet Martínez H. (2015). Adolescence & cancer. Psicooncología, 12(1), 141-156. https://doi.org/10.5209/rev_PSIC.2015.v12.n1.48909
Issue
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2015)
Section
Articles

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