Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer

Cancer can affect anyone, including adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 29. In recent years, this patient group has been recognized as having distinct needs that are neither addressed in pediatric nor adult settings. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is committed to bridging the gap and improving care for this group of patients.

Adolescent and Young Adult Task Force

The Adolescent and Young Adult Task Force is conducting a four-year investigation to better understand the needs of cancer patients between the ages of 15 and 29.

In particular, the AYA Task Force is interested in patient transitions from pediatric to adult cancer care. Adolescents and young adults with cancer are often described as “the lost tribe” because their unique needs fall through cracks between these two levels of the system.

The AYA initiative, which began in 2008 and runs until 2012, will evaluate care, assess how survivors are monitored over time, and establish guidelines and recommendations to improve outcomes and quality of life. Funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, the AYA Task Force is also supported by—and includes the participation of—the C17 network. This network encompasses all specialized centres in Canada that provide care to children with cancer and their families.

“The Partnership was established in part to bring a pan-Canadian approach to cancer control and to add to the evidence that will improve outcomes for people with cancer in Canada,” says Leanne Kitchen Clarke, the Partnership’s vice-president, strategy, performance measures and communications. “The pioneering steps taken by the AYA Task Force are fundamental to improvements in caring for people with cancer in this important and young age group. The Partnership is very pleased to support the Task Force and to be involved in this developing area of cancer control.”

The Task Force’s members are survivors, researchers, and paediatric and adult health-care providers, including psychologists, social workers,nurses and doctors.

• Dr. Ronnie Barr (Co-chair), Hamilton, ON • Dr. Norma Mammone D’Agostino, Toronto, ON • Mr. Geoff Eaton, St. John’s, NL • Dr. Conrad Fernandez, Halifax, NS • Dr. Graeme Fraser, Hamilton, ON • Dr. Karen Goddard, Vancouver, BC • Dr. Abha Gupta, Toronto, ON • Dr. Petr Kavan, Montreal, QC • Dr. Anne Klassen, Hamilton, ON • Ms. Catherine Laing, Calgary, AB • Ms. Megan McLeod, Winnipeg, MB • Dr. Paul Nathan, Toronto, ON • Ms. Josée Pacifico, Montreal, QC • Ms. Annette Penney, Halifax, NS • Dr. Raveena Ramphal, Ottawa, ON • Dr. Paul Rogers (Co-chair), Vancouver, BC • Dr. Brent Schacter, Winnipeg, MB • Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, Vancouver, BC

Contact information:
Sonja De Pauw
Project Coordinator
depauw@mcmaster.ca
Health Sciences Centre 3N48
McMaster University
1200 Main St. W.
Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5
Tel: 905-525-9140, ext. 22652
Fax: 905-522-9587