Becoming a survivor – young people disclosing cancer to new acquaintances and romantic partners

Abstract

Cancer can be stigmatising for young people, especially when the physical markers of illness and treatment, suchas scarring and baldness, are visible to others. Visible physical markers can draw unwanted attention. However, after these physical markers fade, young people still fear being stigmatised because they remain atrisk of having their socially undesirable cancer history exposed to the scrutiny of others. Young people must choose who to tell about their cancer history and when and how they will make their disclosure. As disclosure appears to generally go well, some young people who are early in their period of cancer survival might benefit from opportunities to explore disclosure strategies with more experienced survivor peers. Little is known about how young people choose to disclose their cancer history, the timing and methods of their disclosures and what the likely consequences of disclosure are for them as individuals and for the relationships that they seek to develop.