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Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer

Treating Leukemia in Children and Other Cancers in Teens & Young Adults

Teens and young adults with cancer often feel caught in between younger pediatric patients and older medical patients. At the Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute, we’ve developed an adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer program tailored to this age group, which includes a specialized team of experts, a facility with amenities that appeal to teens and young adults, and access to the latest in treatments and clinical trials.

Germ Cell Tumors and Other Common Types of Cancer

Each year, around 70,000 teens and young adults are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death from medical issues for this population. Certain cancers are more likely to occur in this age group than children or adults. Examples of these cancers are Ewing sarcoma and germ cell tumors.

Cancer in Young Adults

The most common types of cancer in young adults and teens include:

Why Choose Us?

Clinical Support Team

Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute includes a multidisciplinary team of AYA cancer doctors and specialists. In addition, the institute includes other unique behavioral health experts with extensive knowledge of AYA cancer. Among these specialists are psychologists and advance practice nurses dedicated to the teen and young adult population. Our support team helps teen and young adult patients throughout their journey, as a supplement to their medical treatment.

As part of our commitment to comprehensive care for teens living with cancer, we also have clinical psychologists readily available. Our psychologists help provide teens and young adults with the mental and emotional support they need during cancer treatment. These therapists are highly skilled and trained in understanding how to best care for teen patients in a more inclusive way.

Peer-to-Peer Support

It’s rare for teens and young adults to meet others in their age group in everyday life who are going through the same experience. Yet positive connections and a meaningful cancer support network can go a long way toward speeding a patient’s recovery.

UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s provides an environment just for teens and young adults, which facilitates important peer-to-peer relationships and conversations. We also provide a cancer caregiver support group, for anyone over the age of 18 who loves someone with cancer. Our support is comprehensive for patients, families and caregivers.

Ways to Connect

Angie’s Institute AYA Groups: Our program offers two support groups, one for ages 12-17 and another for young adults 18 and up. These groups are currently being held virtually at least once a month. Share stories, ask questions, and most of all, know that you’re not alone. Contact Whitney.Hadley@UHhospitals.org to learn more.

GRYT app: This mobile app provides instant, anonymous peer support and targeted cancer information to anyone affected by cancer. Patients, survivors, caregivers, friends, family, medical professionals, researchers and advocates all benefit from this app.

 

Cancer Prevention in Teens

The HPV Vaccine prevents about 30 percent of cancers in adults. Watch as John Letterio, MD, Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospitals explains how this vaccine is a form of immunotherapy and will allow us to eradicate many HPV-related cancers in our lifetime.

Watch Now