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Adolescents and young adults living with advanced cancer must often discover new rules for living during cancer treatment. Such experiences may lead them to emerge to higher levels of consciousness and find personal meaning in these experiences. Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness was this qualitative research study's framework examining hope's role for adolescents and young adults living with advanced cancer. Fifteen participants aged 12-21 years created written narratives and illustrations to describe their experiences with hope. We propose an updated theoretical model in which hope facilitates expanding consciousness in adolescents and young adults living with advanced cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with advanced cancer may experience a heightened risk for existential distress. Addressing AYAs' hopes can stimulate a dialogue about their concerns, values, and goals, provide a path to holistically support their existential needs, and potentially alleviate their distress. This study aimed to evaluate hope's role in a sample of AYAs living with advanced cancer. Method: This study used a Husserlian phenomenology-informed descriptive qualitative research design to elicit AYAs' experiences with hope while living with advanced cancer. Participants were virtually recruited from an academic medical center and an online non-profit organization. Thematic analyses were performed across the data set to identify final themes. Results: Fifteen AYAs aged 12–21 years diagnosed with advanced hematological (80%) or solid (20%) malignancies participated in this study. A main theme of Simple Supports of Hope with a subtheme of Diversion was identified. Participants described music as a form of diversion, which supported their hope. Participants found listening to music calming and comforting and helped them cope with their distress. Performing music provided a creative outlet for negative feelings associated with cancer treatment. Participants reported creating music transformed and deintensified the treatment environment and helped spread hope to healthcare staff. Discussion: AYAs may intentionally use music to improve emotional expression, empowerment, connection, and coping strategies throughout the treatment process for cancer. Additional research needs to be conducted exploring the use of music interventions such as therapeutic songwriting or compositional music therapy to assist AYAs with building coping strategies during treatment for cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do research teams engage and sustain community advisory councils (CACs)? Most translational research studies include partnerships with community advisory boards (Stewart et al., 2019). While the literature abounds with guidance on inviting and engaging members for initial participation and early sustainability (X et al., 2009), less is known about methods for sustaining relationships long-term. In this paper, the authors build on extant knowledge, exploring their experiences of CAC engagement for research, and reporting how their relationship building contributes to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]