Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer (Canada)

Top 10 priorities

The most important questions
 

1. Why do many adolescent and young adults experience delays in cancer diagnosis and how can the diagnostic process be improved?
    
2. How can we improve access to healthcare services for adolescent and young adults (primary care, screening, psychosocial support, palliative care, follow up care, rehabilitation, etc.) before, during, and after cancer treatment?
    
3. How can we improve the development and implementation of novel treatments and testing protocols (e.g., genomic testing) to improve outcomes for adolescent and young adult cancers, including for relapse and rare cancers?
    
4. How can fertility and family planning experiences and outcomes be improved for adolescent and young adults across the cancer continuum?
    
5. What are the end-of-life care needs and preferences of adolescent and young adults with cancer and their families, and what are the best ways to provide support for adolescent and young adults and families facing end-of-life?
    
6. What are the impacts of a cancer diagnosis on the mental health of adolescent and young adults and how can their mental health be supported across the cancer continuum?
    
7. What challenges do adolescent and young adults face with transitioning off treatment and living beyond cancer (e.g., return to work/school, reconnecting with peers, rehabilitation) and how can they be better supported with these challenges?
    
8. What are the most effective methods to monitor for cancer recurrence and secondary cancers in adolescent and young adults?
    
9. What are the financial impacts of cancer on adolescent and young adults over their lifetime and how can these impacts be mitigated?
    
10. How can we improve screening for and early detection of cancer in adolescent and young adults in the general population and what are the outcomes associated with more inclusive screening practices?

The following questions were also discussed and put in order of priority at the workshop:
 

11. What is the experience and impact of fear of cancer recurrence for adolescent and young adults and how can these fears be managed?
     
12. How can adolescent and young adults diagnosed with cancer be supported in the transition from pediatric to adult care?
     
13. How does cancer care for adolescent and young adults vary across Canada and how can we standardize care nationally
     
14. What are the physical and psychosocial long-term and late effects of cancer treatment for adolescent and young adults and how can adolescent and young adults be best monitored and supported for these long-term and late effects?
     
15. What are the impacts of cancer on the quality of life of adolescent and young adults and how can they be supported to live well both with and beyond cancer?
     
16. What is the role of allied health (e.g., physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, social work, art therapy, etc.) in supporting adolescent and young adults and how can these services be made part of standard care across the cancer continuum?
     
17. Why are rates of some cancers increasing in adolescent and young adults and how can these increases be addressed?
     
18. What are the post-treatment needs of adolescent and young adults living with or beyond cancer and how can follow up services better meet their needs?
     
19. What are the current gaps in care for adolescent and young adults across the cancer continuum according to patients and families and what services would they find the most beneficial?
     
20. What are the most effective, feasible, and developmentally-appropriate models of care for adolescent and young adults with cancer in Canada and how can these models be implemented across the country?
     

Key documents

These documents set out the aims, objectives and commitments of the PSP.

Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer (Canada) PSP protocol

Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer PSP (Canada) PSP Steering Group terms of reference