Understanding how a cancer diagnosis can shape young people’s views of the future and their purpose in life

Abstract Purpose formation often coincides with identity development, but what happens when these processes are disrupted by a cancer diagnosis, as is the case for more than 70,000 US young people each year? How does a cancer diagnosis shape adolescents’ and young adults’ views of their future and their purposes in life? To explore these questions, we conducted interviews with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYA; N = 40). Findings suggest that following a diagnosis, nearly all participants feared their futures could be severely limited, which led a few to react with high levels of anxiety, a few others to focus on living in the moment, and most to commit to using their remaining time engaged in personally meaningful, generative activities. Nearly all participants reflected seriously on their purpose in life. Implications of these findings for AYAs, their caregivers, and others experiencing life-threatening illnesses during this formative period, are addressed.