Navigating family life in the face of parental cancer: a qualitative study

Parental cancer can significantly impact family dynamics, particularly for adolescents and young adults (AYAs), who face the developmental task of balancing autonomy and connectedness. As cancer incidence rises globally, more AYAs are confronted with the challenges of parental illness. While most research focuses on individual psychological outcomes, less is known about how families function as a unit under such stress. This study aimed to gain deeper insight into family functioning, with a specific focus on autonomy, connectedness, and communication, in the face of parental cancer.