Abstract
Goals of the work
This manuscript reports on the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Young Adult Survivor Conference (YASC)—a 4-day retreat designed to provide an educational and support experience for cancer survivors diagnosed as children, adolescents, and young adults. The goals of the program were to address issues of survivorship, provide cancer education and tools for self-advocacy, and build bridges of support among young adult cancer survivors who may be experiencing similar journeys through life.
The program
YASC was designed to offer advocacy skills specific to participants’ needs. Workshops focused on understanding late effects, mentoring and communication, tips for starting peer support programs and networks, and opportunities for offering public testimony and involvement in public policy.
Evaluation
Program evaluation indicated that participants achieved personal goals and expectations for having fun, meeting other survivors, understanding more about their cancer and potential late effects, and learning about how to tell their story so that it will help others.
Conclusions
Involvement with peers who have shared a similar experience provided participants an opportunity to address areas of concern such as coping with uncertainty, dependency vs autonomy, social exclusion, body image, intimacy, sexuality and fertility, and career options. Participation in programs such as the YASC offers young survivors opportunities for life experiences that may promote successful achievement of age-appropriate developmental tasks.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Dolgin MJ, Somer E, Buchvald E, Zaisov R (1999) Quality of life in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Soc Work Health Care 28(4):31–43
Elad P, Yagil Y, Cohen LH, Meller I (2003) A jeep trip with young adult cancer survivors: lessons to be learned. Support Care Cancer 11(4):201–206
Hobbie WL, Stuber M, Meeske K, Wissler K, Rourke MT, Ruccione K, Hinkle A, Kazak AE (2000) Symptoms of posttraumatic stress in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. J Clin Oncol 18(24):4060–4066
Kadan-Lottick NS, Robison LL, Gurney JG, Neglia JP, Yasui Y, Hayashi R, Hudson M, Greenberg M, Mertens AC (2002) Childhood cancer survivors’ knowledge about their past diagnosis and treatment: childhood cancer survivor study. JAMA 287:1832–1839
Oeffinger KC, Mertens AC, Hudson MM, Gurney JG, Casillas J, Chen H, Whitton J, Yeazel M, Yasui Y, Robison LL (2004) Health care of young adult survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study. Ann Fam Med 2:61–70
Stevens B, Kagan S, Yamada J, Epstein I, Beamer M, Bilodeau M, Baruchel S (2004) Adventure therapy for adolescents with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 43:278–284
Thaler-Demers D (2001) Intimacy issues: sexuality, fertility, and relationships. Semin Oncol Nurs 17(4):255–262
Zebrack B, Chesler M, Penn A, Katz E (2005) Psychosocial issues in adolescent cancer patients and survivors. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care, May
Zebrack BJ, Chesler MA (2000) Managed care: the new context for social work in health care—implications for survivors of childhood cancer and their families. Soc Work Health Care 31(2):89–104
Acknowledgement
The authors wish to acknowledge the Children’s Oncology Camp Foundation and Camp Māk-a-Dream for their cooperation in the preparation of this report and the Lance Armstrong Foundation for their financial support of the 2003 Young Adult Survivors Conference.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zebrack, B.J., Oeffinger, K.C., Hou, P. et al. Advocacy skills training for young adult cancer survivors: the Young Adult Survivors Conference at Camp Māk-a-Dream. Support Care Cancer 14, 779–782 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0906-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0906-4