Challenges and opportunities in the care of survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers

• Published in: Pediatric blood & cancer Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. e27668 - n/a
• Main Authors: Fidler, Miranda M., Frobisher, Clare, Hawkins, Michael M., Nathan, Paul C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Adolescent; adolescents and young adults; Adult; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Delivery of Health Care - standards; Humans; late effects of cancer treatment; long‐term survival; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; psychosocial; Quality of Life; Young Adult; psychosocial; adolescents and young adults; long-term survival; late effects of cancer treatment
• ISSN: 1545-5009; 1545-5017
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27668

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer are an understudied group. Much of what is known about long‐term outcomes after AYA cancer has been derived from cohorts of childhood cancer survivors, which seldom include patients at the older end of the AYA age spectrum. In general, AYA cancer survivors have a lower risk for premature mortality, subsequent primary neoplasms and chronic health conditions than childhood cancer survivors. However, AYA cancer survivors are vulnerable to psychosocial challenges, concerns about fertility and relationships and financial toxicity. No single model is optimal for the care of these survivors, but it is generally agreed that all survivors require a survivor care plan that promotes their adherence to evidence‐based surveillance guidelines. There is a need to create survivor cohorts that include the full range of AYA ages and diagnoses to be able to address the many pressing questions that remain unanswered in this vulnerable population.