Karen Fasciano, Psy.D., instructor

The National Cancer Institute and The National Comprehensive Cancer Network provide recommendations for addressing the unique needs of young adults coping with cancer.  Rates of survival for this population have not improved comparably for older and younger populations.  While there are many potential medical and biological variables in this discrepancy, recommendations for age appropriate psychosocial care are also stressed.  Assessment of emotional distress, attention to issues of adherence, facilitation of peer support, assessing communication needs, and accessing mental health services all need to take place is a developmental context.  While clinicians in pediatric settings routinely acknowledge this developmental context, it is not routine for adult medical oncologists to consider the developmental issues of this age group when they are offering care.  Mental health professionals are in a unique situation to help support young adult patients and medical teams, and in turn promote age-appropriate social and emotional cancer care. The seminar will present information in the form of research data, clinical case examples, and clinical programs.  Research on the psychosocial issues for young adults with cancer is limited.  However, there has been a dramatic tenfold increase in such research and publications addressing young adults with cancer over the past eight years. In this seminar, research on social support including peer support, social networking and clinical interventions will be presented.  Clinical case examples will be integrated into the lecture and be the catalyst for group discussion.  These examples will illustrate issues in various stages of the illness process.  Finally, the seminar will use the Young Adult Program at a local academic medical setting to illustrate clinical innovations for this population. Adult learners will be asked to reflect on clinical challenges in this population and consider personal ideas for clinical innovation.

Upon completion of the program the participant will be able to:

·        Identify the unique psychological issues for young adults coping with cancer

·      Define developmentally appropriate psychological care throughout the cancer experience

·      Understand need for clinical innovation to meet the needs of this population

·      Identify resources and tools to provide sensitive, effective clinical care

Program Code: HP47
2 CE Credits
Location: at MSPP, Newton

Karen Fasciano, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist specializing in the psychosocial oncology. She is an instructor at Harvard Medical School, as well as, an associate psychologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a  faculty member at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. At Dana-Farber, she is the Director of Young Adult Mental Health and the Program Director for the Young Adult Program. Dr. Fasciano has a strong interest in innovative models of behavioral health care in the medical setting.