Stuck between youth and family life: an identification of adolescents' experiences during their mother's breast cancer trajectory

BACKGROUND-AIM
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among women. The acute crisis and uncertainty that often follow diagnosis put the family at risk of exhaustion and dysfunction. Adolescents have been identified as a particularly vulnerable group of relatives. However, our knowledge is sparse on the adolescents’ experiences of their mother’s breast cancer trajectory and how they can be supported. As a part of a bigger project aimed to uncover adolescents’ experiences and needs during their mothers’ breast cancer trajectory adolescents’ experiences in the initial stage of their mother’s breast cancer trajectory were explored.
METHODS
Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine adolescents (aged 14-18) close to their mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer during the COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark. Thematic analysis was conducted on the transcribed interviews.
RESULTS
Three themes were identified: 1) From secrecy to shock, 2) sacrificing social life for the survival of mum, and 3) attempts to calm down shut down communication. Adolescents request to be involved and informed about their mother’s breast cancer trajectory. However, they are reluctant with asking and sharing worries with their parents and peers – especially if they are met by parents with ‘don’t worry about it’, resulting in experiencing abandonment in the crisis. Putting feelings into words in a safe environment is experienced as relieving.
CONCLUSION
Parents should be supported to inform and support their adolescent children. The establishment of safe environments for adolescents to share experiences is encouraged.