Challenges and Opportunities — The Way Ahead

Latest Estimates of Survival Rates of the 24 Most Common Cancers in Adolescent and Young Adult Americans

“…9,10 The most important factors appear to be a lack of awareness of the cancer problem in this age group, lack of healthcare insurance coverage and access to healthcare services, 11 a deficit of clinical and translational research on cancer for AYAs, and challenges in psychosocial supportive care and dedicated healthcare facilities. 10 That males have a worse survival rate than females in 85% of the cancers that can be assessed for a gender difference implicates psychosocial factors such as lower adherence to treatment, higher risk-taking behavior, and greater feelings of invincibility. 12 A worse prognosis in AYAs than in younger or older patients suggests that the biology of the cancer may differ in AYAs from what otherwise seems the same cancer in younger and older patients.…”

Young Adult Oncology: The Patients and Their Survival Challenges

“…49 The most important factors appear to be a lack of awareness of the cancer problem in the age group, lack of health care insurance coverage and access to health care services, a deficit of clinical and translational research on cancer in older adolescents and young adults, and challenges in psychosocial supportive care and dedicated health care facilities. 49 Young adults cannot afford to take their health for granted. Transcending the adolescent and young adult phase of life requires achieving selfsufficiency in health maintenance and screening, detection and prevention of disease, and financial responsibility.…”

“…In North America and Australia, the Children's Oncology Group has taken a leadership role in this effort. In conjunction with the NCI and NCI-sponsored adult cooperative groups, 4 initiatives were identified as priorities for development: (1) improve access to care through understanding barriers to participation; (2) develop a cancer resource network that provides information about clinical trials to patients, families, providers, and the public; (3) enhance adolescent treatment adherence (compliance with protocol-prescribed 49 † Items in italics appear in multiple categories. therapy); and (4) establish and promote participation in sarcoma trials specifically designed for patients in this age group.…”

Principles and Recommendations for the Provision of Healthcare in Canada to Adolescent and Young Adult–Aged Cancer Patients and Survivors

“…1,37 This work needs to be undertaken within and among the realms of all stakeholders, including the AYA cancer patient population, family and community support systems, health professionals, policy makers, the general population, and voluntary/nonprofit and advocacy groups. 38 Building awareness requires taking several steps. The first is to clarify the message, the second is to identify the key stakeholders, and the third is to disseminate the information.…”