Abstract
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Two articles looked at cancer-related distress. First, Burgoyne et al. conducted a retrospective cross-sectional chart review looking at cancer-related distress in patients as assessed using the Distress Thermometer and its associated Problem List. In addition to differences in their multivariable analyses, they found that young adults (18–39 years old) had higher levels of distress compared to senior adults (65–90 years old) but similar distress levels compared to middle-aged adults (40–64 years old). Their study is notable for its breakdown of the typical “older adult” group often referred to in AYA cancer research. Their findings of differences in distress between young adults and the two older adult groups highlight the importance of age stratification in research. An approach to alleviating distress in AYA cancer survivors was evaluated by Fisher et al. in their open trial of metacognitive therapy, an important first step toward a possible new tool to assist adolescents.
Hughes et al. sought to identify a symptom profile for AYA cancer patients referred to a specialist and pain and palliative care team that handles patients across the treatment spectrum. Using a retrospective chart review analysis with both matched and unmatched controls method, their findings indicate that AYAs do have a unique symptom profile with high levels of symptom prevalence and severity.
The perspective of both adolescents and parents during and after cancer treatment was included in Stinson et al.'s qualitative investigation of cancer's impact on adolescents' romantic relationships and fertility, both at the time of treatment and looking to the future.
Chao et al. investigated differences in survival outcome for AYAs diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma within the Kaiser Permanente Southern California managed healthcare system, which allowed them to control for a factor that is highly variable in the United States—healthcare access. Even with this variable controlled for, they found survival disparities by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status.
This issue also contains JAYAO's first published Letter to the Editor, with comments on Zaidi et al.'s review of the management of pregnancy during cancer from Archie Bleyer, followed by a response from the authors.