Survivors of childhood cancer often face ongoing emotional and mental health challenges long after treatment ends — among the most significant of which is fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). FCR encompasses worries about cancer returning, progressing, or developing again in the future, and can substantially impact quality of life, mental health, and overall wellbeing.

This project aims to adapt the Fear of Recurrence Therapy (FORT) program specifically for adolescent and early young adult (AeYA) survivors of childhood cancer. Originally developed for adult cancer survivors, FORT is a six-week group intervention with a demonstrated track record of reducing fear of recurrence, anxiety, and depression, while improving quality of life. The adapted program, FORT-AeYA, will be designed for virtual delivery and tailored to meet the unique developmental and emotional needs of young survivors between approximately 13 and 25 years of age.

The project team comprising of patient partners, pediatric oncology physicians, and clinical psychologists will collaboratively guide the adaptation process. Following development, the research team will conduct a usability study with AeYA survivors from across Canada to gather feedback on the program’s accessibility, usefulness, credibility, and overall experience. Insights from participants will be used to further refine the intervention and inform the design of a subsequent feasibility trial.

By addressing fear of recurrence early in survivorship, FORT-AeYA has the potential to improve long-term mental health outcomes and quality of life for young cancer survivors across Canada.

For more information, please contact Renu Jeyapala.