BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 7

Cancer
Journey
for Adolescents
Transforming the

and Young Adults
People ages 15 to 29 experience
cancer differently and deal with
unique challenges

B

rittany Mitchell was 19 years old when she was diagnosed
with Stage IV lymphoma.
"At that age, you don't think anything could ever
happen to you," Brittany says. "I felt very embarrassed;
I didn't want to tell people."
An aspiring model and actress, Brittany was afraid she would
be looked at differently and had a hard time coping with physical
changes that came with treatment, such as weight loss and hair loss.
"Today I would embrace it more, but back in 2003, girls weren't
shaving their heads to be cool or trendy, and I was so afraid."

AN UNEXPECTED DIAGNOSIS
In British Columbia, 350 adolescents and young adults (ages 15 to 29 years
old and referred to as AYA) are diagnosed with cancer each year. The most
common cancers seen in this age group include lymphoma, thyroid, testicular, sarcoma, bone and cancer of the central nervous system.
AYA patients face a high degree of distress related to changes in physical appearance, disruptions of work and school, increased dependence
on parents, financial challenges and loss of reproductive capacity.

Continued on page 8

HELP YOUNG ADULTS
FACING CANCER IN B.C.
Contact Fatima Hassam at 604-707-6040
or fatima.hassam@bccancer.bc.ca to
learn more.
BCCANCERFOUNDATION.COM

7



http://www.BCCANCERFOUNDATION.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018

BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Healthy Insights
Researcher Profile
When a young person faces cancer
Claudia Pavao’s hereditary cancer diagnosis could save her life and help her kids
Addressing the challenging psychology of cancer
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 2
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - Opening Thoughts
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - Healthy Insights
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 5
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - Researcher Profile
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - When a young person faces cancer
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 8
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 9
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - Claudia Pavao’s hereditary cancer diagnosis could save her life and help her kids
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 11
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - Addressing the challenging psychology of cancer
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 13
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 14
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 15
BC Cancer - Partners in Discovery - Spring 2018 - 16
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