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Abstract
Forty-six young adult cancer patients aged 22 to 35 years were surveyed regarding life changes and specific problems they had experienced. The majority of respondents were female, college educated, and married. Although nearly three-fourths of the respondents had completed treatment and were free of symptoms, they rated anxiety about their health and recurrence of their disease as their most stressful problems. Most were worried about their children's future and risk of cancer. Other concerns were physical and financial problems and changes in their life goals. The respondents' scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory showed a moderate elevation of psychological symptoms compared with test norms. The authors concluded that young cancer patients, who have little experience with poor health and confrontation with mortality, may need more psychosocial intervention to deal with existential concerns regarding themselves and their children.