YOUTH: the sweatshirt collection created by adolescents with cancer

Being diagnosed with and treated for cancer is traumatic at any age, but the situation is even more difficult when it occurs during adolescence. Young patients with cancer are suddenly faced with a new condition that severely interferes with various aspects of their everyday life. The emotional responses to this new diagnosis have an important impact on psychological wellbeing, with an overall negative effect on body image, school attendance, relationships with friends and family, sense of freedom and independence, and, most importantly, about future prospects. Adolescent patients have a special need to search for ways to ensure their life is not dominated by their disease and at the same time they must maintain a sense of normality in their lives. Professionals who care for adolescents with cancer must be aware that these patients are particularly demanding, with many unmet needs to consider (eg, the delicate symptom appraisal process and the complex pathway to diagnosis, which is often delayed; access to optimal care including accrual to clinical trials; the need for age-specific psychosocial support; the challenges of communication and adherence to treatment; the necessity for an age-appropriate environment; the specific issues regarding fertility and the impact of disease and treatment on sexuality, body image, and relationships with peers), and with a challenging clinical management. Correction to Lancet Oncol 2020; 21: 341–42Pagani Bagliacca E, Silva M, Veneroni L, et al. YOUTH: the sweatshirt collection created by adolescents with cancer. Lancet Oncol 2020; 21: 341–42—In this Perspectives article, Elena Pagani Bagliacca's name was incorrectly abbreviated in the affiliation list. This correction has been made to the online version as of March 30, 2020. Full-Text PDF