Unmet Supportive Care Needs in Young Adults with Gynaecologic Cancers

Strategic Insights -

Young adults in Canada with gynaecologic cancers face significant challenges in their overall well-being due to multiple treatment modalities. A cross-sectional survey of 50 adults aged 40, receiving treatment or surveillance for gynaecologic cancer at a tertiary cancer centre in Toronto, found that more than half of the participants reported unmet needs in various domains, including psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, sexuality, and patient care and support. These unmet needs were associated with psychosocial, demographic, and clinical factors, including low resilience, non-European cultural origins, further distance to the cancer centre, and multiple treatment modalities.

Key Takeaways:

  • A cross-sectional survey of 50 adults aged 40 with gynaecologic cancer found that more than half of the participants reported unmet needs in various domains, including psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, sexuality, and patient care and support.
  • The unmet needs were associated with psychosocial, demographic, and clinical factors, including low resilience, non-European cultural origins, further distance to the cancer centre, and multiple treatment modalities.
  • Low resilience was a significant predictor of unmet needs in the health system and information, physical and daily living, and patient care and support domains.
  • The study highlights the importance of providing early intervention and adequate resources to meet the needs of younger adults with gynaecologic cancers.
  • The research has implications for improving client-centred, supportive care for young adults with gynaecologic cancer.
  • The study was conducted at the Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON.
  • The research was peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada in 2025.

Statistics:

  • 78% of participants reported unmet mental health needs (psychological domain)
  • 68% reported unmet needs in the health system and information domain
  • 54% reported unmet needs in the physical and daily living domain
  • 50% reported unmet needs in the sexuality domain
  • 46% reported unmet needs in the patient care and support domain
  • Low resilience was associated with a higher likelihood of unmet supportive care needs in the health system and information (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.06-8.35), physical and daily living (4.95, 1.69-22.66), and patient care and support (5.91, 1.77-40.50) domains.

Sources:

  • Predictors of Supportive Care in Young Adults Diagnosed With a Gynaecologic Malignancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 2025;47(11):103115.
  • NewsRx. Study Data from Odette Cancer Centre Update Knowledge of Cancer (Predictors of Supportive Care in Young Adults Diagnosed With a Gynaecologic Malignancy). Health & Medicine Week. October 24, 2025; p 7830.