Symptom burden in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer is poorly characterized but impacts quality of life. AYA with cancer experience substantial symptom burden. Risk of death increased with symptom severity. Interventions targeting cancer fatigue and anxiety, and targeting AYA in lower-income neighborhoods, are likely to improve quality of life in this population.
Many AYAs with cancer continue to receive HI-EOL care; however, in this cohort, there was a clear benefit to Specialized Palliative Care (SPC) involvement in reducing care intensity. AYAs least likely to receive SPC included those with hematologic malignancies, males, and rural AYAs. Increasing SPC access has the potential to improve EOL care.
Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer desire peer support and require support programs that address their unique needs. This study investigated the need for, and barriers to, peer support and preferences for digital peer navigation among AYA.
This review will provide an overview of the evidence on the delivery of palliative and end-of-life care to adolescents and young adults living with cancer, by identifying knowledge gaps and discussing the key characteristics and types of evidence in this field.
