Up to 20% of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are adolescent and young adults (AYAs) and the population is growing; however, there is a paucity of data on the psychological needs of AYAs with MPN, according to a systematic scoping review published in Leukemia & Lymphoma.1
Previous research has shown AYAs with cancer can be overlooked2 and there is little information on how this population does during treatment and survivorship,3 but they can face unique psychosocial issues that impact their quality of life.4
“While the MPN AYA group generally reports a similar symptom burden to the adults with MPN, very little is known about the psychological impact and management of AYA with MPN,” the authors wrote. “Understanding psychosocial issues patients with MPN face are critical given the demands of cancer, and its treatment is often directly counter to the developmental needs of the age group.”