Working group AIOM/AIEOP dedicated to AYA - There is time for... the cure

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer make up a particular group of patients whose clinical and psychological needs differ substantially from those of pediatric patients or older adult patients. In recent years, the international scientific community has recognized the particular problems faced by AYA patients. There are several ways in which AYAs inhabit a middle ground between the worlds of pediatric and adult oncology, and neither pediatric nor adult healthcare models have proved capable of meeting their particular features which range from a unique epidemiology (with both pediatric-type and adult-type tumors occurring within the same age group) to a complex psychological sphere, from clinical challenges such as difficulty accessing specialized care and treatment trials to the need for age appropriate hospital environments with dedicated facilities and programs.

Faced with these challenges, the scientific community should adapt to the needs of AYA patients with cancer by involving diverse health professionals from different disciplines, patient advocates, and stakeholders. In 2021, AIOM (Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica) joined forces with AIEOP (Associazione Italiana di Oncologia ed Ematologia Pediatrica) to set up a formal AIEOP-AIOM intergroup to study “bottom-up” different issues related to the treatment and care of AYA with cancer. Recently, “C’è tempo ODV” added the patients’ perspective to the project.

In this 2-days congress, different aspects of AYAs with cancer will be discussed, including frontal presentations by expert but also leaving time to hear the patients’ voice and to exchange opinions and thoughts between participants and speakers. The congress is free of charge and can be attended in person or from remote connection, with simultaneous translation in English. Each day will be closed by a round table which will end up with a position paper on the topic.

Thanks to Fondazione Menarini for making this possible and to you that chose to participate!