[Transition to adulthood: An essential period in the follow up of young patients]

Abstract

In recent decades, follow-up of cancer survivors has taken on its full meaning with the gradual improvement in the survival of children and adolescents with cancer. This follow-up is associated specially for adolescents with a multitude of transitions: the transition from therapeutic management to the monitoring for possible relapse, the transition into long-term follow-up after childhood cancer, the transition from a pediatric system to an adult care system. If this transition can be perceived as difficult by patients, it gives young people the opportunity to access more autonomous follow-up and support in becoming an adult. Supporting the transition should make caregivers attentive to this time of consolidation of adolescence, favorable to the emergence of a sense of stable, mature identity that guarantees a certain autonomy. This is a key to a successful transition limiting breakdown of care and promoting "the work of the disease". The double contribution of adult and pediatric oncology provides support tailored to these psychic and societal issues. AYA teams can actively participate in this process by facilitating the acculturation of pediatric and adult care teams to the specificity of this group, thus allowing a continuum of care.

Keywords: Adolescent; Autonomie; Autonomy; Cancer survivor follow up; Jeune adulte; Mutlidisciplinarity; Pluridisciplinarité; Suivi après cancer; Transition; Young adult; adolescent.