Patient support

AYA-project
FICAN South and HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center have collaboratively built a national framework for comprehensive care and rehabilitation support for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA patients) diagnosed with cancer. In 2023, HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center implemented a new operational model and created a new role, where a psychosocial support and rehabilitation specialist / young adult service coordinator supports patients aged 16–25. The support from the service coordinator remains alongside cancer treatment until the transition to follow-up care. In 2023, a national young adult cancer network was also launched, tasked with creating a national vision and objectives for the future of AYA care and necessary measures.

Peer Support and Collaboration to Support Patients
We are exploring opportunities to develop peer support and strengthen the role of advisory nurses in the Rare Cancer and AYA projects in collaboration with Cancer Society of Finland and the Association of Cancer Patients in Finland.