Subjective experience of illness and recovery in 13 adolescents and young adults treated for childhood haematological malignancies

The authors report the results of a study conducted in 2010, which consisted meeting, through a semi-structured interview, 13 adolescents or young adults medically cured of childhood haematological malignancies, treated in the department of haematology at the Children's Hospital of Nancy. The objective is to explore the experience of illness and treatment, especially the experience of recovery. Some of them present significant distress in various subjects. Thus, body image and self-esteem are often altered among these young patients. Concerns about possible infertility or severe sexual dysfunction are found. Ambivalence about their future parenting emerges from their speech. These elements are obstacles to the recovery process. A follow-up psychological consultation could be provided in a systematic way by a professional trained in these specific problems.