Communicating with the Young Adult with Blood Cancer

Young adults (YAs) are navigating physical, cognitive, and psychological changes, and transitioning into a more independent time of their life including social life and making more decisions on their own. They often grapple with unique issues when faced with a cancer diagnosis. Carma Bylund, PhD, FACH and Carla Fisher, PhD discuss how best to communicate with these young adults. They describe techniques and tips for caregivers and HCPs (e.g. PACES model), and discuss topics such as fertility, intimacy, sexuality, LGBTQ specific needs, and how to encourage YAs to be involved in the decision making process for their care.