Emotional and psychosocial repercussions in pediatric-juvenile cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide, approximately 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. Of this figure, 29,000 correspond to Latin America and the Caribbean. The main type of cancer in this age group is leukemia, leaving brain cancer as the second in frequency. Even though science has been rushing to provide greater survival, the quality of life and psychological effects produced by the disease and treatment have affected the physical and emotional stability in the patient. Objective: To detail the emotional and psychosocial repercussions on cancer patients in the infant-juvenile stage. Methodology: Nonexperimental study, descriptive type, bibliographic review. A search was carried out for articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and found in the period between 2017 and 2022. Results: The quality of life of cancer patients will be affected by the psychological and emotional effects that arise in the diagnosis and treatment. Stress, anxiety, depression, behavioral changes, and cognition are the main psychosocial repercussions. The family environment serves as support for the patient and his caregiver. Conclusions: Both the cancer patient and their family environment experience emotional and psychosocial repercussions due to diagnosis and illness. Cancer education programs in children and adolescents represent a supporting factor to cope with the disease.