Most young people with cancer adjust to the diagnosis and even grow emotionally as a result, according to a study from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Despite having life-threatening illnesses, children and teens with cancer were no more likely than their healthy peers to report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many patients said they benefited from the experience, growing closer to family and friends. The results counter previous reports that the anxiety disorder was widespread among young cancer patients.
“These findings are another example of the human capacity to thrive in the face of even the most difficult life challenges,” said the study’s first and corresponding author Sean Phipps, Ph.D., chair of the St. Jude Department of Psychology. The work appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
January 21, 2014