Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors - body image - Gupea (PDF)

ISBN: 978-91-629-0440-1 (TRYCK) ISBN: 978-91-629-0441-8 (PDF) http://hdl.handle.net/2077/55381 Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors - body image and sexual health Akademisk avhandling Som för avläggande av medicine doktorsexamen vid Sahlgrenska akademin, Göteborgs universitet kommer att offentligen försvaras i Östra aulan, Centralkliniken, SU/Östra Fredagen den 18 maj, klockan 13.00. Av Maria Olsson Fakultetsopponent: Professor Adam Glaser Faculty of medicine and health, University of Leeds, UK Avhandlingen baseras på följande delarbeten I. Olsson M, Jarfelt M. Pergert P & Enskär K. Experiences of Teenagers and Young Adults Treated for Cancer in Sweden. J European Oncology Nursing 2015; 19(5):575-81. II. Olsson M, Enskär K, Steineck G, Wilderäng U & Jarfelt M. Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors´ perceptions of participating in a survey – ethical and methodological considerations. Submitted Olsson M, Enskär K, Steineck G, Wilderäng U & Jarfelt M. Self-perceived physical attractiveness in relation to scars among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors - a population-based study. Accept for publ. J of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. 2018 Jan 26. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2017.0089. IV Olsson M, Steineck G, Enskär K, Wilderäng U & Jarfelt M. Sexual function among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors – a population-based study. J of Cancer Survivorship. 2018 Mar 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-018-0684-x. INSTITUTIONEN FÖR KLINISKA VETENSKAPER  ISBN: 978-91-629-0440-1 (TRYCK) ISBN: 978-91-629-0441-8 (PDF) http://hdl.handle.net/2077/55381 Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors - body image and sexual health Maria Olsson Department of pediatrics, Institution of clinical sciences at the Sahlgrenska academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, 2018. Abstract Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors constitute a group in society of which the numbers are increasing. To optimize rehabilitation efforts, we need to understand the possible physical and psychological consequences of cancer treatment for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. The purpose of this study has been to identify the needs and topics that adolescents and young adults acknowledge as being important to them, and furthermore to explore possible physical and psychological complications post cancer treatment. Methods/Results: This thesis uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Eleven focus group interviews were conducted with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors aged 15-29. Subsequently, a study-specific web- based questionnaire was sent to a population-based cohort of adolescent and young adult cancer survivor and matched controls. 540 out of 721 (74%) eligible participants responded to the questionnaire. The topics covered in the questionnaire were psychosocial health, body image, sexuality, fertility, education, work and leisure. Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors reported in focus group interviews that they had unmet needs during and after cancer treatment, including age-appropriate information about sexuality. In the questionnaire study, they reported feeling less attractive than controls due to scars on their bodies, and they reported low satisfaction with their sexual function compared to controls. The participants did not find that questions addressing very personal and emotionally charged issues like sexual activity, affected them negatively. Conclusions: Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors perceived themselves as being unattractive due to scars on their bodies and were less satisfied with their sexual function than matched population-based controls. They also expressed the need for support to reintegrate into normal social life.