Thematic content of video narratives in patients and survivors of adolescent cancer

Understanding Young Adult Cancer Survivors' Engagement with Cancer Storylines in Entertainment Media Narratives

Purpose: Some young adult cancer survivors (YACS; ages 18-39) struggle to incorporate their cancer experiences into their identities. Using stories, or narratives, is a new approach that could help YACS to integrate cancer and their identity. These stories offer opportunities to experience perspectives outside of oneself, which can build validation and self-compassion. However, little is known about whether stories about cancer (i.e., the threat itself) are beneficial. Method: YACS completed an online survey about their engagement with cancer storylines in entertainment media narratives (e.g., books, movies, and television shows). They also described their reactions to encountering these storylines in entertainment media. Results: Participants (n = 108) were primarily White. Participants who sought cancer storylines reported a more positive impact of cancer on their sense of purpose and identity. Among YACS who had completed treatment, cancer storylines were sought after treatment more than during treatment. In addition, compared with their peers, participants who identified as Black reported greater cancer storyline seeking both during and after treatment. Nearly half of participants (n = 45, 47.4%) described reactions to cancer-related storylines as positive or mixed, primarily owing to feelings of inspiration or validation. Conclusion: Consuming cancer storylines can offer some benefits for YACS, especially among those finished with treatment and those who identify as Black. However, not all YACS responded positively, so future research should investigate which YACS could benefit most from cancer-related storylines. Nonetheless, entertainment media narratives represent a novel approach to supporting YACS' integration of cancer into their identity.

The Utility of Verbal Therapy for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Survivors: Expressive Writing, Video Narratives, and Bibliotherapy Exercises

Childhood cancer is a stressful experience. No pediatric patient, however, should be made to feel as if their concerns and feelings about their cancer experience must be bottled up inside. Importantly, talking and writing about one's illness has myriad implications for young cancer patients and survivors. The most salient of these may include increased understanding of one's condition as well as improved physical and cognitive symptoms (e.g., lowered depression, decreased anxiety, and an enhanced quality of life overall). This literature review explores three promising avenues for verbal therapy in the pediatric oncology setting: expressive writing, video narratives, and bibliotherapy exercises. Several recent studies, covering verbal therapy methods from illness blogging to book interventions, are referenced and discussed. Ultimately, we conclude that expressive writing, video narratives, and bibliotherapy exercises are valuable, feasible, inexpensive, and acceptable tools for patients and survivors of childhood cancer to facilitate self-expression-and to find meaning in the uncertainty and anxiety that cancer inherently fosters. We recommend that future studies investigate this theme so that we may improve quality of life and mental health for pediatric cancer patients and survivors worldwide.