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- Tiago Costa (Portugal)
- Chandan Kumar (India)
Introduction
- Chandan Kumar (India)
- Tiago Costa (Portugal)
MEANING IN CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVAL: LATIN AMERICAN YOUNG ADULTS THRIVING WITH SUPPORT OR ADRIFT WITHOUT IT.
- Maria F. Olarte-Sierra (Colombia)
Abstract
Background and Aims
Childhood cancer survivors transition to adult healthcare, and sometimes receive support for wellbeing. We explored treatment engagement in Peru, El Salvador and Mexico in a SIOP PODC Task Force study across 10 resource-limited countries. Survivors shared positive and negative experiences during and following treatment.
Methods
An ethnographic investigation of recent survivors (n=30) was facilitated by local Childhood Cancer International (CCI) organizations. A pediatric oncopsychologist and medical anthropologist (native Latin American [LATAM]) conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, recorded and transcribed data and analyzed content.
Results
Survivors mentioned local CCI as main facilitators of social and therapeutic opportunities. A small group of El Salvadorean survivors meet regularly to share feelings and plan activities. In southwest Mexico, a nascent survivor group wrote a play about their cancer experience. In both countries, survivors visit hospitalized children to bring hope and relief. They also consider being with peer survivors important. Peruvian survivors are not yet supported and mentioned poor emotional and friendship bonds with peers, fellow survivors, and others. They described continued interrupted schooling (for family and economic reasons). Transition to adult healthcare made them feel alone/abandoned without a trusted pediatric oncologist to share fears/frustrations. Peruvian survivors wonder about their battle to survive if life does not resemble their wishes or ideals.
Conclusions
Although small and nascent positive support in Mexico and El Salvador emphasizes the role of CCI members in survivorship, in Peru, consequences of missing support was highlighted by life disappointments. These survivors are in an impossible situation of self-managing emotions and health while failing to fulfill their imagined life after cancer. Survivors without support beyond Peru and throughout LATAM may also be at risk. Childhood cancer survivors deserve the option of formal support, including psychological counseling, to share experiences while giving meaning to life after cancer and realizing their imagined healthy adult lives.
HOW SURVIVORS COMMUNITY AFFECTS IDENTITY FORMATION OF CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS
- Sazkia G. Zakaria (Indonesia)
Abstract
Background and Aims
One of the essential parts of every individual to become mature is by developing a sense of self or identity. There are many factors in life that can hinder the development of identity, especially when someone has had a chronic disease at a young age such as childhood cancer. Having good social support is very helpful for the survivors of children with cancer to overcome the difficult situations. After finishing the treatment, identity issues have become one of the problems that occur in childhood cancer survivors. Due to different personalities, environments, and family backgrounds, some childhood cancer survivors struggle with the issues. Such as low self-esteem, intense emotion of sadness, and low resilience which leads to anxiety and insecurity that are sometimes experienced by survivors. To help them get through the situation, the presence of the childhood cancer survivors’ community could help the survivors to develop an identity and shape their personalities so they can overcome the problems.
Methods
Cancer Buster Community’s activities and programs (such as cancer survivors camp, roadshow, hospital visit and many more) could help the survivors to be more exist and active in society, by interacting with other survivors and engaged in positive activities.
Results
By joining the community and getting involved in the programs, survivors were able to interact with various sub-identities of an individual that could help to shape the learning, thinking, perceptual environment, and knowledge. It can also boost their positive self-esteem which will allow the survivors to shape a positive identity.
Conclusions
Social support like community could be one of the sources to help survivors of children with cancer finding and shaping positive identity. It also enables them to realize how important and inspiring they are to other people.