Helping Young Adults With Cancer

Nearly 70,000 young adults between the ages of 15-39 are diagnosed annually with cancer in the U.S.  Young adult cancer is often a huge shock, throwing a wrench in career, family, and life plans.  Young adults with cancer may feel isolated and alone due to the simple fact that cancer is more frequently diagnosed in older adults.  Most cancer support groups are filled with older adults with very different needs, concerns, and points of view.  Without young adult cancer support, the spark of life that is within young adults starts to fade and their lives are overcome by cancer. The Young Cancer Network’s mission is to ensure that young adults, between the ages of 18 and 40, have the social support and resources needed to help them win against cancer and to keep moving forward with their lives after cancer. Cancer in young adults raises a different set of concerns than cancer in older adults…questions of fertility, changes in body image, protecting his/her career path, and maintaining supportive relationships. By providing a network of support and resources for patients, survivors, and families, the Young Cancer Network allows young adults to learn more about the journey they are facing and to reach out to each other.  No young adult facing cancer should feel alone...thousands of young survivors have walked the same road!