Developing a Comprehensive Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program: Lessons Learned from 7 Years of Growth and Progress.

Every year, nearly 100,000 adolescents and young adults (15-39 years, AYAs) are diagnosed with cancer in the United States and many have unmet physical, psychosocial, and practical needs during and after cancer treatment. In response to demands for improved cancer care delivery for this population, specialized AYA cancer programs have emerged across the country. However, cancer centers face multilevel barriers to developing and implementing AYA cancer programs and would benefit from more robust guidance on how to approach AYA program development.

Accelerated epigenetic aging and myopenia in young adult cancer survivors.

Background: Young adult cancer survivors experience early aging-related morbidities and mortality. Biological aging biomarkers may identify at-risk survivors and increase our understanding of mechanisms underlying this accelerated aging.

Methods: Using an observational study design, we cross-sectionally measured DNA methylation-based epigenetic age in young adult cancer survivors at a tertiary, academic state cancer hospital.

The Adolescent and Young Adult Needs Assessment & Service Bridge (NA-SB): A single-arm feasibility pilot study.

Purpose: In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of implementing the Needs Assessment & Service Bridge (NA-SB)- an intervention to address the pervasive unmet needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) during cancer treatment.

Methods: We conducted a mixed methods single-arm feasibility pilot study of NA-SB at the North Carolina Basnight Cancer Hospital. Eligible participants were AYAs ages 18-39 in active cancer treatment.