AYA FICAN – Developing the Care Pathway for Young Adults Diagnosed with Cancer
Young adulthood is a significant life stage that can be interrupted by a cancer diagnosis. The illness poses challenges across various aspects of life, necessitating special support and guidance for this group to cope with the psychological, physical, and social changes caused by a serious illness.
Young adults diagnosed with cancer have been internationally recognized as a distinct target group, referred to by the acronym AYA, which stands for Adolescents and Young Adults. Their specific needs have not been adequately addressed in Finland until now.
FICAN South conducted a project from 2020 to 2022 to identify and address the needs of adolescents and young adults for comprehensive care and rehabilitation support. The development involved not only hospital staff but also a wide range of third-sector actors and former patients of the Cancer Center along with their families.
Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer are internationally referred to by the acronym AYA. These individuals, approximately aged 15–39, are recognized as a distinct target group in many countries, but not yet in Finland, where care and available support are designed to meet the needs of either younger children or older adults. Based on the data collected in the AYA FICAN project, it was found that young adults are satisfied with cancer treatments but expect a more comprehensive approach to care – individualized psychosocial support and rehabilitation, as well as consideration of their close network. There is also a clear need for service guidance amidst fragmented services both during and after treatments.
HUS Cancer Center Offers More Individualized Support for Young Cancer Patients.
In the future, young cancer patients at the HUS Cancer Center will be assigned a service coordinator who is also an expert in psychosocial support and rehabilitation. The dedicated staff member will identify the patient’s rehabilitation support needs and preferences and guide them to the most suitable services, either within specialized healthcare or outside of it. This service is initially intended for patients aged 16–25 and will be offered to all patients within the target age group at the start of treatment, during treatment, and when transitioning to cancer care follow-up. Additionally, there will be a telephone-based service counseling available for all patients diagnosed with cancer under the age of 40 and their families.
Finland aims to be among the leading countries in comprehensive care for young adults.
During the AYA FICAN project, connections were established with international actors. In many other countries, young adults receive support tailored to their age and life situation, care coordinators, multidisciplinary teams addressing the specific needs of young people, and hospital facilities. Similar measures are needed in Finland, and work at the HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center is already well underway. To elevate Finland among the leading countries, research related to the topic must be increased to support development and decision-making, and a national framework must be created to ensure the quality of care and support for young adults.
International cooperation needs to be increased and deepened in the future, as good practices proven effective in other countries have already been utilized. Attention has also begun to be paid to the specific needs of young adults diagnosed with cancer elsewhere in Finland. Collaboration has already started, for example, with TAYS and FICAN Mid.
Under the coordination of HUS and FICAN South, a national cancer network for adolescents and young adults will be launched, providing opportunities for multidisciplinary and cross-organizational collaboration, sharing best practices, and creating new approaches. The hope is that Finland will develop a national cancer strategy that highlights young people and young adults as a key target group.
You can read more about the services for young adults at the HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center here:
Link to the service page. https://www.hus.fi/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/support-young-adults-cancer
