Exploring Depressive Symptoms and Cancer Worries in a High-Volume Cancer Genetics Clinic: What Are the Roles of Age and Cancer Diagnosis?

Abstract

Limited research has explored depression and cancer worries (CWs) among adolescents and young adults with cancer (AYAs) seeking genetic counseling. This study evaluated depressive symptoms and CWs among five groups: AYAs, adolescents and young adults without cancer (AYAWOCs), older adults with cancer (OAs), older adults without cancer (OAWOCs), and older adults diagnosed with cancer in their adolescent and young adult years (OA/AYAs). A retrospective data analysis was performed on 6524 patients, which found that AYAs reported significantly higher depressive symptoms and CWs compared with all other groups except OA/AYAs. These findings suggest that the intersection between age and cancer diagnosis is related to depressive symptoms and CWs.