ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S96

Invited Speaker

ESTRO 2025

improve treatment pathways in future. Additionally, the information was always supplied in paper format which was often undesirable to the cohort with a different, more interactive format preferred. The participants disclosed very strong feelings of being different to “usual cancer patients” and displayed a desire for more opportunities to meet other TYA patients to be provided within their pathway. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the implementation of a dedicated TYA open evening would improve the information support and treatment pathway for 18-24-year-old cancer patients. The evening could offer a wanted opportunity where TYA patients could meet each other and additionally, treatment information and age appropriate support information could be provided in a different and possibly more suitable format than current paper-based literature.

KEY WORDS: Teenage Young Adult, Radiotherapy, Information Support, Open Evening.

4807

Speaker Abstracts Providing age-appropriate late-effect information to Hodgkin's Lymphoma AYA survivors: The Irish experience Maeve Kearney 1 , Sara Faithful 2,1,3 , Michelle Leech 1,3 1 Applied Radiation Therapy Trinity, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 2 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. 3 Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute, St. James’s Hospita, Dublin, Ireland

Abstract:

The young people in this study were under-informed about late effects such as fertility risks and secondary cancers. However, immediate concerns post-treatment—such as weight loss, fitness recovery, and returning to work or education—often took precedence over late effects considerations.

4808

Speaker Abstracts A peer program to support AYA cancer patients

Diana Richter 1 , Hannah Brock 1 , Sarah Dwinger 2 , Kristina Geue 3 , Corinna Bergelt 4 , Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf 1 1 Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), University Medical Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 2 Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 3 Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. 4 Department of Medical Psychology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

Abstract:

Background: The development of cancer in young adulthood is a non-normative life event that is associated with significant physical, social, and psychological challenges. A substantial proportion of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer report an unmet need for both informational and emotional support. This is often due to the fact that conventional support networks, such as family and friends, may be unable to cope with the demands of the situation. Peer support from fellow AYA cancer survivors is recognised as a vital resource for enhancing coping mechanisms, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life. In Germany, there is a notable lack of