Support for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Each year, around 89,000 people between the ages of 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer. This group is called “AYA,” which means Adolescent and Young Adult. This is a unique population. You aren’t kids and you aren’t older adults. Your medical, emotional, and everyday needs may be different.
You can learn more about different types of cancer here. Treatment options can be found here. You can also learn more about medications used in cancer treatment here. If you have completed therapy, ask your team for a survivorship care plan (SCP) or make your own SCP here.
Since cancers in AYAs are rare, it is important to find a cancer care team that is experienced in providing care to your age group. You may also want to find a trained mental health professional to help you cope with the emotional aspects of being an AYA survivor. Peer mentoring programs also offer connections with other AYAs who have had cancer.
Common Issues for AYAs in Cancer Care
Fertility
Some cancer treatments can make it harder or even impossible to have children later in life. This can happen to both men and women. It is important to talk with your care team before, during, and after treatment about how your fertility may be impacted. You should also ask about options to preserve your ability to have children in the future.
You can find more learn more about fertility resources here.
Sexual Health and Relationships
Our bodies can also change as a result of cancer and cancer treatments. This can impact our self-image, our confidence, and also our physical ability for intimate relationships. It is important to think about your sexual health, desires, and abilities while going through cancer treatment and after.
It's also helpeful to learn how to talk more openly with your partner (or future partners) about your cancer history. More resources for sexual health and fertility can be found here.
Practical Issues
Living with cancer can bring daily challenges. For example:
- Getting to appointments
- Paying for transportation and parking (especially if your treatment center is far from home)
- Understanding and keeping your health insurance
- Balancing work or school and cancer
- Getting financial assistance for medical bills
- Making sure your healthcare decisions are respected
- Naming someone to make medical decisions if you can't
- Planning for the care of your children
- If you are a student, you may also need help with financial aid resources
Integrative Medicine
Many AYAs want to use integrative care alongside thrie regualr cancer treatment. This is also sometimes referred to as complementary or alternative medicine. This can includes the use of medical cannabis (marijuana). You can find more resources for integrative medicine here.
Transitions of Care
If you were diagnosed with cancer as a child or teen, you will eventually transition your care to an adult oncology setting for ongoing follow-up care. These transitions in care can be tough: new providers, new settings, new policies, and rules. Also many AYA survivors, are now the ones making their healthcare decisions when before this was typically done by their parents. Planning ahead can make this transition smoother.
If you'd like to learn more about resources for AYAs, visit this page.