Getting support when cancer invades your family: changes in wellbeing in young people accessing a community cancer support organization.

Abstract

Objective: A preliminary examination of the psychosocial wellbeing of young people impacted by a family member's cancer, and changes after engaging with a community cancer support organization.

Methods: Five-hundred-and-sixty young people attending a community cancer support organization self-reported distress and unmet needs at baseline and 6-month follow-up. This included young people who: had a brother or sister living with cancer ("siblings"); had a parent living with cancer ("offspring"); had lost a brother or sister to cancer ("bereaved siblings"); or had lost a parent to cancer ("bereaved offspring").

Results: Between 36.1% (siblings) and 57.6% (bereaved offspring) reported high distress; 61.6% (siblings) to 88.1% (bereaved offspring) endorsed 10+ needs. Distress decreased significantly for offspring and bereaved offspring, and unmet needs decreased significantly for siblings, offspring and bereaved offspring. Between 50.0% (siblings) and 63.6% (bereaved siblings) showed significant improvement in distress, unmet needs, or both.

Conclusions: Many young people impacted by family cancer have elevated distress and unmet needs. Engagement with a community cancer support organization may improve their psychosocial wellbeing.