Experiences of adolescents with cancer from diagnosis to post-treatment: a scoping review

Adolescence is a turbulent time of transition. Facing a serious health issue such as cancer during this time can be challenging and confusing. This study presents a scoping review of 33 research articles including quantitative, qualitative, mixed method, and reviews focused on the experiences of adolescents throughout the cancer journey. Extracted themes across studies identified individual, interpersonal, and environmental aspects of adolescents’ experiences in each stage of this trajectory. Implications for these findings are discussed including a need for early diagnosis and treatment of adolescent cancers and developmentally appropriate clinical supports.