Les effets traumatiques du cancer chez les adolescents et jeunes adultes – AJA – en trois temps : parcours pré-diagnostic, parcours médical et passage à la rémission

Abstract

Introduction

The onset of cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYA) corresponds to a period of fragility marked by a dull anxiety in the face of what the subject perceives as a threat to his or her body. This anxiety is alleviated to some extent by the announcement of the diagnosis and the implementation of the treatment protocol which gives this anxiety a concrete and real dimension. While some young people manage to adapt to the disease, others develop a ‘surface adaptation’. In this case, the traumatic effects may go unnoticed during the curative phase. This article analyzes the trauma in three stages in order to show the long-term effects.

Methods

We used a qualitative methodology based on a semi-structured interview.

Results

The results showed that trauma manifested itself in three stages. Firstly, the period of the first signs and symptoms appeared as a pre-trauma, helping the patient to enter gradually into the illness, while over-investing in the event to come as particularly threatening. This pre-trauma fulfilled an anti-traumatic function, because the time taken for prior medical investigation can act as a buffer against the onset of trauma. Then, during the medical course marked by the treatments, the trauma seemed to be put in latency: the young patient being protected by an inevitable dependence on the nursing team which temporarily suspends all psychic work. Finally, when the disease went into remission, the traumatic effects emerged requiring psychological work.

Conclusion

It is essential for the various healthcare professionals involved in the care of an AJA patient to provide support in order to prevent the traumatic effects and support the necessary psychological work.