Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer Who Received Radiation Therapy: A Scoping Review

Authors

Kelsey L Corrigan
Bryce B Reeve
John M Salsman
Elizabeth J Siembida
Lauren M Andring
Yimin Geng
Ramez Kouzy
J Andrew Livingston
Susan K Peterson
Andrew J Bishop
Grace L Smith
Jillian R Gunther
Susan K Parsons
Michael Roth

Publication Date

3-24-2023

Journal

Support Care Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) is a critical component of treatment for adolescents and young adults (AYAs, age 15-39 years old) diagnosed with cancer. Limited prior studies have focused on AYAs receiving RT despite the potentially burdensome effects of RT. We reviewed the literature to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in AYAs with cancer who received RT.

Methods: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched in January 2022 to identify studies that analyzed HRQOL measured by patient-reported outcomes in AYAs who received RT. After title (n = 286) and abstract (n = 58) screening and full-text review (n = 19), articles that met eligibility criteria were analyzed.

Results: Six studies were analyzed. Two studies included AYAs actively receiving treatment and all included patients in survivorship; time between diagnosis and HRQOL data collection ranged from 3 to > 20 years. Physical and mental health were commonly assessed (6/6 studies) with social health assessed in three studies. AYA-relevant HRQOL needs were rarely assessed: fertility (1/6 studies), financial hardship (1/6), body image (0/6), spirituality (0/6), and sexual health (0/6). No study compared HRQOL between patients actively receiving RT and those post-treatment. None of the studies collected HRQOL data longitudinally.

Conclusion: HRQOL data in AYAs receiving RT is limited. Future studies examining longitudinal, clinician- vs. patient-reported, and AYA-relevant HRQOL are needed to better understand the unique needs in this population.

Keywords

Humans, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, Quality of Life, Neoplasms, Mental Health, Survivorship, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Adolescents and young adults, Cancer, Health-related quality of life, Patient-reported outcomes, Radiation therapy.

DOI

10.1007/s00520-023-07682-x

PMID

36961516

PMCID

PMC11913056

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-17-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes