ArticleCurrent oncology (Toronto, Ont.)2026
Coping with an Uncertain or Poor Cancer Prognosis as an Adolescent or Young Adult: A Cross-Sectional Cluster Analysis.
Article in Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA subgroup of adolescent and young adult patients (AYAs; 18 to 39 years at diagnosis) face an uncertain or poor cancer prognosis (UPCP). Previous qualitative research identified dual coping pathways in this population: engagement in life versus the reality of premature death. This study examines whether similar psychosocial profiles can be identified through quantitative data, aiming to differentiate patient experiences and identify characteristic features of each cluster. Additionally, this study examines the association between cluster membership and social support needs to understand psychosocial disparities.
methodsEligible participants completed questionnaires assessing physical, psychosocial, and existential outcomes related to their disease and prognosis. An ensemble clustering approach was applied, including evaluation of clustering tendency and multiple algorithms, with stable clusters identified through majority voting. Associations with social support needs were analyzed using Fisher's exact test.
resultsData from 155 AYAs with a UPCP were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 31.2 years, with glioma (34.8%) and breast cancer (17.4%) as the most common diagnoses. Two distinct clusters were identified: one (22%) characterized by poorer functional outcomes and fewer protective factors (e.g., hope, meaning in life), and another cluster (78%) with better functioning and less frequent needs for social support (
conclusionsFindings revealed divergent psychosocial profiles within the AYA-UPCP population, highlighting the importance of early identification of vulnerable subgroups. Strengthening protective factors may enhance resilience and reduce unmet support needs. Validation in larger, external datasets is needed to confirm these pathways and guide tailored supportive care strategies.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.