The differentiation between young adult palliative patients and the typical palliative patient is exemplified through the unique psychosocial challenges posed. These psychosocial challenges are best described as the emergence of and transition to adulthood within a young adult (Epelman, 2013; D’Agostino, Penney & Zebrack, 2011). The young adult is formulating an understanding of the world, themselves, and what role they play or will play. A complex existential task on its own, but in the case of the young palliative patient it’s punctuated by serious
