Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer may need support for scholastic performance, according to new findings presented by Fisher et al at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 11053). Previous studies have shown how a cancer diagnosis could disrupt the typical developmental trajectory for these individuals, potentially creating more mental health risks and financial insecurities long term.
Study Methods and Results
In this study, investigators identified four areas of support that should be integrated into AYA cancer care: helping patients obtain school accommodations, supporting them with the loss of extracurricular activities that play a role in identity formation, navigating disruptions in their academic and career trajectories, and losing their connection with their peers. They then compared the lived experiences of three groups: AYAs between the ages of 15 and 29 diagnosed with cancer, parents caring for these patients, and physicians treating them in an AYA oncology program.
“These four areas are support gaps that AYAs, parent caregivers, and [physicians] all agree are direly needed,” highlighted lead study author Carola L. Fisher, PhD, MSW, Professor in the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics and a member of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center. “Parents and AYAs also noted that scholastic opportunities are motivating and empowering and thus critical to their well-being. That further supports the need to attend to scholastic performance in AYA oncology care,” she added.
Individuals tend to think of school or college as an extra burden during cancer treatment or survivorship care. However, the investigators noted that AYAs and parents reported the significance of scholastic experiences, particularly as AYAs develop independence and a sense of self.
Conclusions
“There’s certainly pauses that have to happen depending on treatment plans, but this adds to the idea that parents and AYAs living with cancer want and need supportive care that helps them navigate the stresses that come with an academic or career disruption,” Dr. Fisher emphasized. “Supporting their academic needs can help mitigate those negative impacts. Incorporating … three different and key stakeholder voices strengthens our research and allows us to better identify what the supportive care needs are,” she indicated.
To mobilize resources to support AYAs and parents facing these challenges, the investigators are currently working to establish scholastic performance as a meaningful patient-centered metric and functional outcome for cancer survivorship.
Disclosure: The research in this study was funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For full disclosures of the study authors, visit meetings.asco.org.
