Helping Young Patients Find
“Having cancer at 25 is fundamentally different than at 75…when you’re between 18 and 39, you’re meant to be a healthy person.”
Because young patients represent a small subset of the larger cancer population, they often feel isolated from their friends. Jennifer notes that the need for specialized care is growing as more young people are diagnosed with cancer across Canada. The program is open to young adults across the province and provides a space to discuss anything meaningful in their lives. A major pillar of her work involves fertility and sexual health. Patients often connect with Jennifer and the AYA team to discuss preservation options like egg freezing or sperm banking before starting treatment, along with helping them navigate life at home after hospital discharge or active treatment is done.
“We’re looking at the cancer patient as a whole person. Who are they outside of their cancer treatment?”
The program also places a high priority on caregivers. Jennifer recognizes that young patients are rarely “islands” and that the well-being of their loved ones is symbiotic with their own, and will invite them into appointments to address their anxieties and practical questions. Because a young caregiver’s peers may not relate to the experience of a partner having cancer and going through treatments, the AYA team ensures the program extends its care to the patient’s entire support network.
Since its inception, the program has expanded significantly with the addition of a social worker, two school and work counselors, and mental health practitioners. Together, they’re focused on expanding care provincially so that a patient’s postal code doesn’t determine their access to AYA resources. The future of the program includes more tailored services, such as sessions for young parents or bereavement groups for the spouses of young people who have passed away. Jennifer is hopeful about continued growth, driven by the connections she’s made, describing it as “the best job in the world.”
“The hospital saved my physical body, but the AYA program saved me.”
AYA program participant
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