Kristin Doss, a 36-year-old mother from Ridgecrest, California, is receiving treatment at UCLA Health for a rare and aggressive brain cancer. Diagnosed with Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (APXA) last year, Doss has faced significant changes in her daily life and the need to have difficult conversations with her two sons.
“It’s not easy to be young with cancer,” Doss said. She explained that her diagnosis forced her to leave her job as a judicial courtroom assistant and rely more on family and friends due to mobility restrictions caused by seizures.
Doss receives support through UCLA Health’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program. Twice monthly, she attends counseling sessions with Nahin, the Simms/Mann Center’s first clinical oncology social worker dedicated exclusively to patients aged 15 to 39. Doss also participates in a support group led by Nahin for young patients navigating cancer during pivotal moments of their lives.
“It’s a lot easier to relate to people who are in a similar stage of life to you,” Nahin said. “This is the reason the support group is so beneficial for these patients – it allows them an opportunity to connect with other young people who are also undergoing cancer treatment at UCLA Health.”
According to data from the National Cancer Institute, adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 account for about 4.2% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States each year.
Nahin noted that younger adults face unique challenges such as maintaining relationships, body image concerns, disruptions in education or career plans, and financial instability since many are just beginning their professional lives. The experience often requires them to confront issues like fertility preservation before starting treatment—conversations that most people their age do not have.
For those already raising families like Doss, balancing personal health needs with caring for children adds another layer of complexity. “I’m not so much worried about myself – I’m more worried about my kids and how they feel and what they’re going through,” she said.
After surgery near home followed by radiation and chemotherapy at UCLA Health—which ended in January—Doss experienced recurrence six weeks later when scans found another tumor. She underwent further surgery and additional radiation this summer.
Her illness has affected memory, speech abilities, physical strength, and independence; she no longer drives herself due to seizure risk. Despite these challenges, Doss credits her fiancé’s ongoing support: “He has no plans on leaving… He’s been very supportive, very sweet, caring and loving.”
Counseling sessions provided free through the Simms/Mann Center have become important for Doss’ well-being beyond medical care. “We talk about different things and not always my cancer stuff,” she said of Nahin’s guidance during sessions.
Nahin praised Doss’ advocacy within the support group: “She is so good at both providing support and validation to others and also encouraging people in a respectful and supportive way to share their stories.”
Younger patients often show openness toward online resources and value direct communication from healthcare providers—a trait echoed by Doss: “I need you to tell me all the things now, up front… I need to know everything.”
Looking ahead as she awaits results from upcoming scans this fall, Doss finds reassurance knowing she can count on continued peer connection through AYA programs at UCLA Health: “To have this set group of people to see and talk to about cancer and life in general is good for me,” she said.
The Simms/Mann Center continues offering various support groups aimed at helping patients like Doss navigate both their medical journeys and broader life challenges.
