Journal article
High School Cancer Experience and Age at Diagnosis: Perspectives of Adolescents, Young Adults, and Parents
Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology, pp.1-11
23/04/2026
PMID: 42025541
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Purpose: Adolescents affected by cancer experience unique educational and social challenges during high school due to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. High school experiences may also be impacted by developmental stage at diagnosis. This study aims to compare the high school experiences related to age at diagnosis (childhood or adolescence) from adolescent and young adult and parent perspectives.
Methods: We used purposive sampling to recruit youths and parents to semistructures interviews, including 18 youths (11–23 years), diagnosed during childhood (n = 8; age at diagnosis M = 6.8) and adolescence (n = 10, age at diagnosis M = 13.8), and 13 parents (34–65 years), of youths diagnosed in childhood (n = 8, child age at diagnosis M = 6.9) and adolescence (n = 5, child age at diagnosis M = 13.6). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically.
Results: We identified two common themes for youths: Academic Calibration, highlighting the adjustments to academic performance and engagement throughout the cancer journey, and (Dis)connection, describing shifts in social identity and peer relationships. For parents, themes included: Navigating School Engagement, reflecting challenges with education engagement, and Social Flux, capturing changes in social functioning and peer interactions. Distinct subthemes were identified across all youths, including Missing Out, Social Isolation and School Takes a Back Seat, detailing the social and academic experiences of youths diagnosed in adolescence.
Conclusions: This study underscores the shared and distinct challenges faced by adolescents affected by cancer in high school. Disruptions to social networks faced by adolescents with cancer and enduring academic challenges of adolescents diagnosed in childhood underscore the need for tailored, comprehensive support.
Details
- Title
- High School Cancer Experience and Age at Diagnosis: Perspectives of Adolescents, Young Adults, and Parents
- Creators
- Mary A Burns - The University of SydneySuncica Lah - The University of SydneyCecilia Law - The University of SydneyClarissa E Schilstra - Sydney Children's HospitalSarah J Ellis - The University of SydneyClaire E Wakefield - Sydney Children's HospitalUrsula M Sansom-Daly - The University of SydneyRichard J Cohn - Sydney Children's HospitalGlenn M Marshall - Sydney Children's HospitalAlistair Lum - Sydney Children's HospitalBarb Donnan - Sydney Children's HospitalThomas Walwyn - The University of Western AustraliaAmanda Carter - Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health ServicePhilippa Fielden - Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health ServiceCinzia R De Luca - Royal Children's HospitalBelinda Barton - Southern Cross UniversityDonna Drew - The University of SydneyFiona Maguire - Prince of Wales HospitalCath O'Dwyer - Prince of Wales HospitalJoanna E Fardell - Sydney Children's Hospital
- Publication Details
- Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology, pp.1-11
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers; THOUSAND OAKS
- Grant note
- Kids Cancer Project Kids Cancer Alliance - Kids Cancer Project Cancer Institute NSW Research Capacity Building Grant: 2021/CBG003 Cancer Institute NSW: 2025/ECF2619 NHMRC of Australia: APP2008300 Early Career Fellowship from the Cancer Institute NSW Kids with Cancer Foundation
Ms Mary A. Burns' PhD is supported by the Kids Cancer Project and the Kids Cancer Alliance. This research is funded by a research grant, awarded to Dr Joanna E. Fardell by The Kids Cancer Project. Dr Fardell is a Maridulu Budyari Gumal (SPHERE) Cancer CAG Senior Research Fellow and is supported by a Cancer Institute NSW Research Capacity Building Grant (2021/CBG003). Dr Sarah Ellis is supported by the Luminesce Alliance - Innovation for Children's Health, and an Early Career Fellowship from the Cancer Institute NSW (ID: 2025/ECF2619). Claire E. Wakefield is supported by the NHMRC of Australia (APP2008300). Dr Ursula M. Sansom-Daly is supported by an Early Career Fellowship from the Cancer Institute NSW (ID: 2020/ECF1163). During the course of this research, the Behavioural Sciences Unit received support from the Kids with Cancer Foundation. These funding bodies did not have any role in the study, nor did they have a role in the writing of the article or the decision to submit it for publication.
- Identifiers
- 991013373632702368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s)
- Academic Unit
- Human Sciences; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article