Lived experiences and caring needs in young adults diagnosed with cancer

To explore the lived experience of young adults diagnosed with cancer and to increase our understanding of how to help them with their caring needs.

Being diagnosed with cancer is normally related with an existential crisis. This indicates that the individual cannot avoid thoughts of death, loneliness, guilt, and meaninglessness. In person-centered care, the caretaker should have a holistic view of the person. Professionals must meet the patient´s different needs to strengthen health and well-being for the diagnosed. This approach encourages the traditionally passive patient to become an active consumer who works in partnership with the healthcare provider.

For this study, a content analysis of narratives was conducted, targeting age groups of 20-29 to take part of young adults' experiences.

Qualitative analysis of narratives and followed checklist (e.g., COREQ).

During the analyzing phase, two main themes emerged: Interactions with Professionals and Cancer Voyager. In the results, both positive and negative feelings regarding encounters and support received from the professionals were described, this affected the young adults' well-being and their ability to participate during treatments. The young adults felt as being on a journey with no control over which direction the road may take.

Outcome of the result shows the importance of making the young adult, one in a team. When working in a person-centered way, patients gain control by owning their own responsibility during treatments.

There is a need in nursing education to address existential matters, to make nursing students ready to be approach but such questions in their professional work. Also, we believe that the experienced nurse must be given means to feel confident to handle questions about existential matters. By developing skills in the area of e-Health, collaboration through support groups, and last but not least switching to patient-centered care, we can offer effective and evidence-based care tailored for this population.