New NCCN Guidelines on Cancer Care for Teens, Young Adults

New NCCN Guidelines on Cancer Care for Teens, Young Adults

March 19, 2012 (Hollywood, Florida) — Since 1975, adults older than 44 years and children younger than 15 years have had significant improvements in cancer survival in the United States, but there has been no such improvement seen in the survival of adolescents and young adults (aged 15 - 39 years) with cancer, according to new research presented here at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 17th Annual Conference......

abstract: Psychosocial Care of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer and Survivors

Psychosocial Care of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer and Survivors

Adolescents And Young Adults: Bringing A Neglected Group Into Cancer Research – Health Affairs Blog (ages 7-18rs)

“A child is not a small adult,” but an adolescent is not a large child...."

"Consent and Assent in Children and AYA Cancer Patients
For most IRBs, informed consent can be granted by any prospective human subject over the age of 18.  For minor patients under 7, consent is granted by the parents or guardians.  What to do with patients between the ages of 7 and 18 (or with “intellectual ages” between 7 and 18) is less clear.  While they are still minors and under the care of their parents or guardians, they are also independent human beings capable of judgments, particularly ones with which their parents or guardians may not agree. This is certainly the case when it comes to choosing their friends, making time for school work, selecting extracurricular activities, carefully operating a motor vehicle and experimenting with alcohol, drugs or sex....."

Clinical Care Options - Oncology CME - The Right Care for the Younger Patient: Meeting the Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the physical and psychosocial challenges facing the AYA cancer patient
• Suggest the most suitable treatment strategy for individual AYA patients with cancer based on current evidence
• Apply current evidence to select treatment centers (adult or pediatric) that optimize treatment for AYA patients

abstract: Pregnancy after adolescent and adult cancer: A population-based matched cohort study

"In summary, fertility-preserving attempts have succeeded in patients with ovarian or testicular cancer and in males with Hodgkin lymphoma."

Primary care providers’ willingness to recommend BRCA1/2 testing to adolescents