Clarissa Schilstra

Investigating the role of social anxiety in the social outcomes of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors"
 
My PhD aims to (1) determine the prevalence and primary characteristics of social anxiety in AYA cancer patients and survivors, (2) examine the relationship between social anxiety and social wellbeing in AYA cancer patients and survivors, and (3) develop and implement evidence-based guidelines for oncology and mental health clinicians working with AYA cancer patients, to inform them of the role of social anxiety in AYA cancer patients’ and survivors’ social wellbeing and instruct them on screening methods for social anxiety in this population. As an AYA cancer survivor myself, having gone through cancer treatment between the ages of 13 and 16, I am incredibly passionate about this project and I am very grateful for the guidance that my supervisors, Dr Joanna Fardell, Dr Toby Trahair and Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly have provided to help me make this project a reality.

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Selected Publications

• Ellis, S. J., Fardell, J. E., Wakefield, C. E., Schilstra, C. E., Burns, M. A., Donnan, B., Walwyn, T., Lum, A., Marshall, G., Carter, A., Barton, B., & Cohn, R. J. Are we meeting the training needs of healthcare and education professionals supporting children with cancer in their return to school? [Letter to the editor]. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. Accepted for publication 16 November, 2018.