Coping with Cancer in Early Adulthood

Empowering young adult cancer patients with expert guidance, practical strategies, and heartfelt real-life stories, Coping with Cancer in Early Adulthood draws on decades of experience from Christina Pozo-Kaderman, PhD, and Saul Wisnia to help reclaim life and identity amidst the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Coping with Cancer in Early Adulthood explores the emotional, physical, and practical challenges faced by young adults aged 18–49 who are navigating a cancer diagnosis during critical life milestones in early adulthood. This guide provides actionable advice for managing emotional struggles, financial concerns, relationship challenges, and physical health changes caused by cancer.
Christina Pozo-Kaderman is a clinical psychologist and director of the Young Adult Program and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Saul Wisnia is Dana-Farber's senior publications editor. Drawn from their over fifty-five combined years of experience working with and telling the stories of early-adult patients, this guide will address topics such as:
-Mood and mental health changes
-Loss of independence
-Feelings of isolation
-Managing relationships
-Financial toxicity
-Fertility and sexual health changes
-Redefining "normal"
-Fear of recurrence and "scanxiety"
Meeting patients where they are in the cancer journey, Coping with Cancer in Early Adulthood aims to empower patients to advocate for themselves and tackle challenges head-on. Offering actionable self-care tips, expert-backed strategies, and real-life cancer survivor stories, this resource supports young adults and their caregivers in overcoming cancer's emotional and physical toll to rebuild identity and find hope.

Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, PhD, is a senior psychologist, director of Interprofessional Education, and director of the Young Adult Program (YAP) in the Department of Supportive Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with a faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Pozo-Kaderman obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Miami. She completed her internship at Cornell Medical College, Payne Whitney Clinic, and her fellowship in psycho-oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. For over thirty years she has worked in the field of psychosocial oncology with young adults, mentoring trainees as well as serving on numerous professional and community organizations.
Saul Wisnia has been senior publications editor-writer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 1999. A former Sports and News correspondent at The Washington Post and feature reporter at The Boston Herald, his articles have also appeared in The Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, and many other publications. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books including the Library Journal-starred guide Spinal Cord Injury and the Family and The Jimmy Fund of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Wisnia lives with his wife and dog just outside Boston.