The Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis at the relatively young age of 42 brought attention to the realities of being diagnosed with cancer as a younger person. By definition, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are people diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39. In Canada, there are more cancer diagnoses in this age group than ever before: nearly 8,300 diagnoses each year, or one AYA diagnosed every 65 minutes.
However, there is limited understanding and support for the distinct medical and psychosocial complexities adolescents and young adults face, and cancer care systems rarely support the unique needs of patients in these age groups.
