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AYA Awareness Week is 4/1/24 - 4/5/24

Posted 8 months ago in Cancer Awareness

This announcement has 1 attachment:
AYA Patient Brochure 2016 (3.4 MB)

About Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults

An estimated 85,980 adolescents and young adults (AYAs) between the ages of 15 to 39 will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States in 2023. This accounts for about 4% of all cancer diagnoses. 

Cancer incidence rates among AYAs have been rising on average 0.3% each year from 2010 to 2019, according to Cancer Stat Facts: Cancer Among Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) (Ages 15–39), NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

The most common cancers in adolescents and young adults (ages 15–39) are:

Other cancers that are common in adolescents and young adults include brain and other central nervous system tumors, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and sarcomas (including bone cancer and soft tissue sarcoma). 

- National Cancer Institute

Addition Resources  from the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (JONS):

Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults

According to Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 10% of colorectal cancer diagnoses happen in people under 50 and rectal cancer is more common than colon cancer. By 2030, young-onset colorectal cancer (YO-CRC) could be the deadliest cancer in people 20-49. Since 1994, cases of YO-CRC have increased by 51 percent.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Although most breast cancers are diagnosed in older women, about 9% of all breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age. Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be hereditary than breast cancer in older women and more likely to be found at a later stage, when it is often more aggressive and difficult to treat. Many young women do not know their risk for breast cancer or ways to manage their risk. (CDC) 

  • 5 Under Forty is dedicated to providing funded medical, wellness, educational, and beauty services to women under the age of 40 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or have a BRCA mutation. 
  • Bright Pink - their mission is to accelerate, deepen, and expand the impact of life-saving breast and ovarian health interventions.
  • Bring Your Brave Campaign (CDC)  provides information about breast cancer to women younger than age 45 by sharing real stories about young women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.
  • Pink Wishes educates, advocates, mentors, supports, share resources, and grants wishes to children & young women under the age of 40 who have been affected by terminal breast cancer
  • Tigerlily Foundation supports young women (age 15 – 45) before, during, and after breast cancer. 
  • Young Survival Coalition for young adults affected by breast cancer, locally, nationally and internationally

AYA Events

AYA Resources

Information

Camps ,Retreats and Wishes

  • Angel Foundation’s Camp Angel (Minnesota) provides 3 days of peer support and activities for children and teens ages 6 to 18 with a parent or caregiver who has or has had cancer.
  • Camp Kesem (throughout Texas and US) offers free summer camps for children ages 6 to 18 with a parent who has or has had cancer. The camps are held on college campuses.
  • Camp Koru is a free outdoor adventure camp that helps young adult cancer survivors aged 19-39 find healing and renewal beyond cancer.
  • Camp Make-a-Dream has medically supervised programs that offer adult, young adult, teen, youth, family, and siblings camps.
  • Camp Simcha free camp program in NY for children and teens in or out of treatment for cancer
  • First Descents provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions.
  • Next Step works with young people (12-29 years old) who are living with both the immediate and long-term impact of cancer, HIV/AIDS or rare genetic disorders. Provides free retreats , workshops and music therapy. 
  • Reel Recovery (throughout the United States) offers fly fishing retreats for men of all ages recovering from all types of cancer.
  • Send It provides free outdoor adventures for young adult (ages 21-40) cancer patients and survivors, removing them from their cancer experience and creating the space to play, connect, and have fun in the outdoors. Send It programs are multi-day adventures in Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Bay Area, designed around activities such as mountain biking, skiing, surfing, climbing and backpacking; creating a vital community through shared experience.
  • True North Treks helps young adults with cancer connect with the healing space found in nature, connecting with others who have hiked a similar path, and connecting with oneself through mindful awareness practices
  • Wish Upon a Wedding grants weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness or life altering health circumstances.

Fertility and Pregnancy

Financial Assist/Scholarships

Support and Education

  • A Fresh Start a community built by and for people seeking growth, possibility, and connection after experiencing a cancer diagnosis.
  • CancerCare has resources, information and support groups for young adults with cancer
  • Cancerversity is a resource hub and community for young adults and women of color to access support, advice, and medical insight about cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship.
  • Cancer Support Community: Young Adult Support Group   
  • Cactus Cancer Society provides a safe space where young adults (ages 18-45) facing cancer can connect, cope, and thrive with one another in an online community through creativity and expression. 
  • Dear Jack Foundation provides impactful programs benefiting adolescents and young adults (18-39) diagnosed with cancer and their families to improve their quality of life from treatment to survivorship.
  • Ft. Worth Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Coalition (FWAYA) is a cancer support organization with more than 100 AYA survivors and their families, advocates, and passionate volunteers. They help adolescents and young adults (AYAs) between the ages of 15 to 39, diagnosed with cancer in our community. They provide support, education and resources. FWAYA patient brochure is attached.
  • Life with Cancer has young adult cancer resources and anyone with cancer can access their virtual groups and services
  • Smart Patients: Young Adult Cancer  Community 
  • Stupid Cancer offers programs and services, such as its annual conferences, to young adults with cancer
  • Ulman Foundation creates a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer.
  • Young Adult Cancer Coalition 

Teen Only Support