To describe levels of, and relationships between, distress and psychosocial unmet needs in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with a family member with cancer. Adolescents and young adults (12-24 years old) with a living sibling or parent with cancer participated. Participants completed demographics, the Kessler 10 (K10) distress scale and the Sibling or Offspring Cancer Needs Instruments. Descriptive statistics were obtained for all measures, item-level frequencies were examined to identify common unmet needs, and relationships between distress and unmet needs were explored. Average sibling (N = 106) and offspring (N = 256) distress levels were in the high range (K10total = 22-30), with 29.6% and 31.6% in the very high range (K10total = 31-50), respectively. Siblings had mean = 19.7 unmet needs (range 0-45), 66% had ≥10 unmet needs, and 44% of the 45 needs were unmet on average. Offspring had mean = 22.4 unmet needs (range 0-47), 77% had ≥10 unmet needs, and 48% of the 47 needs were unmet on average. Strong positive correlations were found between K10 distress and the number of sibling/offspring unmet needs (r = 0.599 and r = 0.522, respectively, P = .00). Australian AYA siblings and offspring impacted by familial cancer experience high levels and numbers of unmet needs and substantial distress. Strong associations were found between increased distress and more unmet needs. Distress levels were comparable to AYAs seeking treatment for mental health issues. Insights into the type and number of needs experienced by AYA siblings and offspring will facilitate development and delivery of targeted, age-appropriate interventions, and resources for these vulnerable and underserved young people.

Background: Emerging adulthood is the life stage between adolescence and young adulthood, and it has been associated with several important developmental milestones. A cancer diagnosis has the potential to disrupt the normal achievement of these milestones. Many psychosocial themes relevant to emerging adults living with cancer have been identified, but there has been only limited research into the needs of this group. Objective: The present study seeks to contribute to this limited research base and inform our understanding of the needs of emerging adults with a diagnosis of cancer from a developmental perspective that appreciates the key transitional tasks of emerging adulthood. Methods: This needs-based qualitative study was conducted with 14 young people with a diagnosis of cancer, aged 20 to 25 years. Nine participated in a focus group, and the remaining 5 participated in 1-on-1 telephone interviews. Results: The needs of these emerging adults in relation to their cancer experience were grouped into 6 themes: information, healthcare provision, daily living, interpersonal support, identity renegotiation, and emotional distress. Conclusion: A cancer experience poses the potential for significant impact on the 4 main requirements for the achievement of adulthood: accepting responsibility for oneself, deciding on personal beliefs and values, establishing relationships with parents as equals, and becoming financially independent. Implications for Practice: This study provides a useful framework for understanding the needs of emerging adults with a diagnosis of cancer that will assist healthcare professionals in the development and delivery of more targeted supportive care and interventions.

Objective: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer commonly experience elevated psychological distress and need appropriate detection and management of the psychosocial impact of their illness and treatment. This paper describes the multinational validation of the Distress Thermometer (DT) for AYAs recently diagnosed with cancer and the relationship between distress and patient concerns on the AYA‐Needs Assessment (AYA‐NA).Methods: AYA patients (N = 288; 15–29 years, M_age = 21.5 years, SD_age = 3.8) from Australia (n = 111), Canada (n = 67), the UK (n = 85) and the USA (n = 25) completed the DT, AYA‐NA, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and demographic measures within 3 months of diagnosis. Using the HADS as a criterion, receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to determine the optimal cut‐off score and meet the acceptable level of 0.70 for sensitivity and specificity. Correlations between the DT and HADS scores, prevalence of distress and AYA‐NA scores were reported.Results: The DT correlated strongly with the HADS‐Total, providing construct validity evidence (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). A score of 5 resulted in the best clinical screening cut‐off on the DT (sensitivity = 82%, specificity = 75%, Youden Index = 0.57). Forty‐two percent of AYAs scored at or above 5. ‘Loss of meaning or purpose’ was the AYA‐NA item most likely to differentiate distressed AYAs.Conclusions: The DT is a valid distress screening instrument for AYAs with cancer. The AYA‐POST (DT and AYA‐NA) provides clinicians with a critical tool to assess the psychosocial well‐being of this group, allowing for the provision of personalised support and care responsive to individuals' specific needs and concerns.

This research sought to identify what has been helpful for young people who have a parent diagnosed with cancer. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with young people (N = 15, age: M = 15.9 years) who had a parent diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years. A phenomenological thematic data analysis distinguished three superordinate themes, identifying what helped adolescents cope with their parent's cancer diagnosis. These were parental behavior, specific coping strategies used by the young person, and community support. These results contribute to our knowledge of what can help young people whose parent has been diagnosed with cancer.