Truce is an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group program for young people who have a parent with cancer. In a pragmatic controlled trial, we compared Truce with a wait-list condition to assess its effect on unmet needs and distress. We also investigated how process variables-mindfulness, cognitive inflexibility, family functioning, and life events-might influence outcomes. Participants' unmet needs improved over time ((3" = -5.01, SE = 16.48, p = 0.036, effect size = 0.42), and those improvements were greater for the intervention group compared to controls ((3" = -5.03, SE = 2.41, p = 0.040, effect size = 0.29). There was no evidence of a significant program benefit for distress. For the intervention group, greater improvements in unmet needs were associated with higher baseline distress (t = 2.36, df = 47, p = 0.022), and being less mindful at baseline (t = 2.07, df = 47, p = 0.044). No significant mediators were identified. For the control group only, experiencing negative/mixed life events related to cancer was a significant moderator of improvement (t = -2.36, df = 33, p = 0.024). Truce appears to offer therapeutic benefits to young people who have a parent with cancer, over and above the expected adjustment to the situation over time. The program seems to buffer the impact of negative cancer-related life events on participants' well-being, but the mechanisms of change remain unclear.

For adolescents and young adults (AYAs, 12–24 years), a parental cancer diagnosis can disrupt critical developmental processes and family relationships, negatively impacting wellbeing. However, few supportive interventions are available to affected offspring. This paper reports the feasibility and acceptability of Truce, an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based weekly program for AYAs impacted by parental cancer. A multi-method, multi-informant approach was used, with data drawn from facilitator, AYA and parent/caregiver feedback collected after each session and at the end of the program. Truce was delivered with high fidelity to the program manual and high participant interest. AYAs and parents/caregivers reported perceived benefits of participation around therapeutic teachings, peer connection, and parental participation. While subsequent work will determine whether Truce has significant psychosocial benefits for participants, findings are a promising indicator of the potential for ACT-based group interventions to support AYAs affected by parental cancer.

Issue addressed Given the increasing prevalence of cancer, there is a growing need for health interventions educating individuals about the disease and its impacts, risk-reduction strategies and how to support others who are affected. School-based programs are a promising medium addressing these issues in adolescents, yet no comprehensive cancer education program exists in Australia. This paper reports on the piloting of a cancer awareness program for Australian students. Methods When Cancer Comes Along is a 90-minute interactive presentation covering cancer's impacts, risk-reduction strategies and how to support those affected. The program was piloted in four Australian secondary schools, with students (N = 113, 13-16 years) and teachers (N = 2) providing feedback via postprogram survey. Results Participants reported high satisfaction overall (92%-97%) and with each program component (71%-95%), and agreed that the program achieved learning outcomes (72%-95%). Conclusions Results indicate that When Cancer Comes Along is relevant, engaging and age-appropriate. Participants reported improved understanding of cancer, its impacts, risk-reduction strategies and how to support those affected. A larger-scale evaluation is underway to more comprehensively evaluate program outcomes. So what? The program has potential in educating students about various aspects of the cancer experience. It further demonstrates the feasibility and value of addressing psychosocial impacts and support strategies as well as information about cancer risks, elements which have not previously been combined in educational interventions. Equipping adolescents with the knowledge and skills to reduce their cancer risk and support others who are affected has significant health promotion implications for cancer prevention and support provision.