Young adult cancer services in the UK: the journey to a national network.

The past decade has seen the development of a network of specialist teenage and young adult cancer centres across the UK. These provide expertise in treatment across the spectrum of malignancies that occur in young adults, supported by multi-disciplinary teams that are able to provide the psycho-social support so necessary for this age group, and in a hospital environment that encourages social interaction while delivering expert medical care. The development of teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer as a specialty gained establishment backing in 2005, through NICE guidance which mandated that all 16- to 24-year-olds should be referred to specialist TYA cancer centres.

Awareness and advocacy for adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Increasing the awareness of the clinical and psychosocial needs that are particular to adolescents and young adults (AYA) was a top priority, as was strengthening advocacy efforts to empower and support this group. To date, AYA advocates had some success in generating public awareness and building a solid clinical justification for increased focus on this population. It had been established that the economic burden of their mortality was significant, their cancers were unusual, their medical care was often inadequate, and their outcomes for many cancers had not improved in the past 3 decades.

Advocacy and adolescent/young adult cancer survivors.

Strong advocacy efforts are vital to ensuring that the unique medical, psychosocial, support and educational needs of teenagers/adolescents and young adults living with cancer are met. Advocacy groups can help bring individuals interested in change together, and provide coordinated education and support services as well as policy analysis and response. Recent improvements in services and treatment indicate the success of organised and professional advocacy in addressing the needs of teenage/adolescent and young adult survivors.

The experiences of teenagers and young adults with cancer--results of 2004 conference survey.

In 2004, 350 teenagers and young adults (TYAs) attended the third Find Your Sense of Tumour Conference for cancer patients. This provided a unique opportunity to survey a large group of patients regarding their cancer experience. Analysis of the results showed that delegates had both positive and negative experiences of the cancer journey and had clear views regarding service provision.