Survivorship Program for Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Disqualifiers: Currently receiving cancer treatment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 6 weeks

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help young adult cancer survivors feel more prepared to return to daily life by testing a six-week group program called the Group Curriculum. Participants will engage in online sessions led by oncology social workers, covering topics on coping with life after cancer and discussing concerns with peers. The trial seeks individuals aged 18-39 who completed cancer treatment between six months and two years ago and are currently receiving care at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to gain valuable support and insights from both professionals and peers.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on group support and education rather than medical treatment, so it's unlikely that you would need to change your medications.

What prior data suggests that this group curriculum is safe for young adult cancer survivors?

Research has shown that the group program under study for cancer survivors is safe for participants. This program includes online sessions led by social workers specializing in cancer care. These sessions help young adults manage life after cancer by teaching coping skills and addressing common issues like anxiety and depression. As an educational program, not a medication or medical treatment, it has no known physical side effects. The focus is on learning and support, which typically involves minimal risk. Participants in earlier studies reported improvements in managing post-cancer challenges, with no reports of harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this survivorship program for young adult cancer survivors because it offers a unique group curriculum specifically designed for their age group. Unlike traditional one-on-one counseling or generic support groups, this program brings together young adults in an online setting, allowing them to share experiences and discuss issues with peers who truly understand their journey. Facilitated by oncology social workers, it provides tailored information and coping strategies relevant to young adults, which is often missing in standard supportive care options. This peer-focused approach could significantly improve emotional well-being and quality of life for young survivors.

What evidence suggests that this group curriculum is effective for improving survivorship outcomes in young adult cancer survivors?

Research has shown that structured group programs can help young cancer survivors manage life after treatment. This trial examines a program called the Group Curriculum, which addresses the specific challenges young survivors encounter. Studies have found that similar group activities can help participants feel more prepared and emotionally better. Sharing experiences and receiving support from others in the group can ease the transition back to everyday life. Early results suggest that this type of program could improve overall outcomes for young adults after cancer. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Melody A Griffith, MSW, LISW

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults aged 18-39 who are cancer survivors, treated at Mayo Clinic Arizona with the intent to cure. They must have completed treatment within the last 6 months to 2 years, be able to attend six group sessions, and participate in a group setting. Excluded are those without internet or computer access, currently receiving cancer treatment, on hospice care, or with severe illnesses that could interfere with the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Is a patient of Mayo Clinic Arizona for oncologic care and/or follow-up

My treatment was aimed at curing my condition.

Ability to commit to attending all six group meetings

Exclusion Criteria

Not receiving care at Mayo Clinic Arizona

You are currently receiving hospice care.

Co-morbid systemic illness or other severe concurrent disease which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessments

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants attend a 6-week online group curriculum facilitated by oncology social workers, focusing on coping with cancer survivorship and discussing issues with peers

6 weeks

6 online sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in quality of life and well-being after completing the curriculum

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Group Curriculum

Trial Overview The trial tests a 6-week group curriculum aimed at improving life after cancer for adolescent and young adult survivors. Facilitated by licensed social workers, it offers education and support tailored to their unique needs post-treatment. The effectiveness of this program will determine its potential use across Mayo Clinic sites and possibly other centers.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Supportive Care (group curriculum) Experimental Treatment 6 Interventions

Participants attend an online group facilitated by two oncology social workers and receive information regarding coping with cancer survivorship as a young adult, as well as discuss survivorship issues/concerns with peers.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, particularly those aged 20 to 29 and female survivors, are more likely to forgo necessary health care due to cost compared to their peers without a cancer history, with a relative risk of 1.67.

Despite similar rates of being uninsured between survivors and controls, the study highlights that AYA cancer survivors face significant cost barriers that may prevent them from accessing health care, which could hinder early detection of late effects from their cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Limitations in health care access and utilization among long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer. Kirchhoff, AC., Lyles, CR., Fluchel, M., et al.[2018]

The ACCESS AYA program effectively increased health literacy and communication between adolescent and young adult cancer survivors and healthcare providers, as indicated by a high mean effectiveness rating of 4 out of 5 from participants.

The evaluation identified key themes such as survivor wellbeing and the importance of professional education, highlighting the need for ongoing resources to support AYA cancer survivors in managing their long-term health after treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Educational Programming: A Qualitative Evaluation. Vollmer Dahlke, D., Fair, K., Hong, YA., et al.[2020]

The 'Bridge to Next Steps' program, involving 50 pediatric and young adult cancer survivors and 46 caregivers, was found to be feasible and acceptable, with 77.8% of participants completing both visits.

Caregivers experienced a significant reduction in distress and anxiety after the program, while both survivors and caregivers reported feeling more prepared for survivorship care, indicating the program's potential to support healthy adjustment post-treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a transition to survivorship program for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients and caregivers. Bingen, K., Karst, J., Anderson, L., et al.[2023]

Only 9.5% of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors demonstrated complete knowledge of their required surveillance testing, despite attending a survivorship clinic, indicating a significant gap in awareness.

Younger age at the survivorship visit was linked to better knowledge of testing needs, suggesting that earlier education and follow-up may improve understanding among survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Knowledge of Required Medical Surveillance Among Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. Goode, E., Shah, D., Ver Hoeve, ES., et al.[2022]

A quarterly speaker series and conference aimed at adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors significantly increased participants' knowledge about survivorship issues and available community resources, as shown by pre- and post-evaluations.

Participants rated their satisfaction with the program as 'moderately high' to 'high,' with nearly one third attending multiple sessions, indicating the program's effectiveness in providing valuable education for AYA survivors and their caregivers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a survivorship educational program for adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Bingen, K., Kupst, MJ.[2019]

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors face unique challenges and often feel their needs are unmet by healthcare providers, leading to feelings of hopelessness and abandonment.

The study emphasizes the importance of narrative medicine and care ethics in improving the understanding and care for AYA cancer survivors, suggesting that specialized follow-up care programs are necessary to address their distinct health care needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Struck down by cancer with no old life to fall back on" a clinical study of illness experiences among Norwegian adolescent and young adult cancer survivors investigating the ethical implications of their illness narratives. Hjulstad, K., Bondevik, H., Hem, MH., et al.[2023]

Each year, around 26,000 adolescents and young adults in the USA are diagnosed with cancer, and over 80% of them are cured, leading to a growing population of cancer survivors.

These survivors face significant long-term health issues due to treatment side effects, which can lower their quality of life and increase the risk of early death, highlighting the need for targeted screening and prevention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Survivorship in adolescents and young adults. Kishtagari, A., Tavakkoli, M., Park, JH.[2014]

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors face specific long-term challenges and risks related to their treatment and disease, which can significantly impact their quality of life.

An interprofessional survivorship clinic has been developed to address the unique needs of AYA cancer survivors aged 18-39, aiming to provide tailored support and care for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Development of an Interprofessional Survivorship Clinic. Colabroy, D.[2021]

There are over 600,000 adolescent and young adult cancer survivors at high risk for late effects from their treatments, highlighting the need for effective survivorship care plans (SCPs).

Current guidelines for AYA cancer survivorship care show significant disagreements on key aspects such as treatment exposure links to late effects and screening protocols, which can complicate follow-up care and impact the quality of life for survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivor at Risk for Late Effects? It Depends on Where You Look. Barthel, EM., Spencer, K., Banco, D., et al.[2018]

Advancements in understanding the unique needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors have highlighted the importance of ongoing follow-up care to address risks associated with cancer treatment.

Multiple models of survivorship care are available for AYAs, emphasizing the collaborative role of healthcare providers, researchers, and families in supporting these patients during their transition from treatment to survivorship.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Models of Cancer Survivorship Care for Adolescents and Young Adults. Kinahan, KE., Sanford, S., Sadak, KT., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. cancer.gov cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2022-07825

Group Curriculum for Improving Survivorship Outcomes in ... This clinical trial studies the effectiveness of a group curriculum in improving survivorship outcomes in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

2. mayo.edu mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20546552

Group Curriculum for Improving Survivorship Outcomes in ... The purpose of this study is to develop the curriculum and assess its feasibility and impact on equipping young adults to better manage these aspects of ...

3. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/14002?per_page=20&recruiting=1&enrolling_by_invitation=1&active_not_recruiting=1&not_yet_recruiting=0&completed=0&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

Group Curriculum for Improving Survivorship Outcomes in A... Participants attend an online group facilitated by two oncology social workers and receive information regarding coping with cancer survivorship ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8388247/

The Creation of a Comprehensive Adolescent and Young ... Purpose: The Reid R. Sacco AYA Cancer Program set out to improve survivorship care for AYA-aged patients (15–39 years) of pediatric or AYA cancer.

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-neoplasms-10-2022-4059c

Survivorship Program for Young Adult Cancer Survivors This clinical trial studies the effectiveness of a group curriculum in improving survivorship outcomes in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7990618/

Outcomes of cancer survivorship education and training for ... A 60-minute survivorship workshop. Curriculum: based on the NCCN's eight common survivor issues (i.e., anxiety and depression, cognitive decline ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7919337/

Young Adult Cancer Survivorship - PubMed Central - NIH Survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers (AYAs) often live 50 to 60 years beyond their diagnosis. This rapidly growing cohort is at increased risk ...