AYA Cancer Resources
Below you will find critical elements of effective AYA psychosocial support services including information and educational resources about illness and treatment; fertility and sexuality counseling; programs to address work, school and family life; resources for coping with physical and emotions symptoms of cancer; and financial resources. Ultimately, the goal in providing supportive care for AYAs with cancer is to facilitate their achievement as self-reliant, independent, and productive members of society. Click here for more in-depth information and resources on AYA cancers.
General Information on Cancer in AYAs
► USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital
The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (USC Norris), located in Los Angeles, is one of the first comprehensive cancer centers designated by National Cancer Institute. It is an innovative leader in the cancer field, setting a global standard for cutting edge research that is accelerating programs to prevent, control, and cure cancer. a major regional and national resource for cancer research, treatment, prevention, education, and community engagement.
This site is developed by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for finding resources and information about childhood cancer, blood disorders, and other rare diseases or conditions.
► The National Cancer Institute
As the leader of the cancer research enterprise, collectively known as the National Cancer Program, and the largest funder of cancer research in the world, NCI manages a broad range of research, training, and information dissemination activities that reach across the entire country, meeting the needs of all demographics—rich and poor, urban and rural, and all racial/ethnic populations.
A not-for-profit organization providing resources and services for patients with cancer, including AYAs.
A not-for-profit organization aiming to educate and support medical institutions and health care professionals in the development of specialized AYA cancer care units.
► Stupid Cancer (The I’m Too Young for This! Cancer Foundation)
The nation’s largest online support community for AYAs affected by cancer. In addition to providing resources for AYAs with cancer, this organization holds conferences and podcasts and hosts a peer-to-peer matching app.
National non-profit organization dedicated to helping teens and young adults living with cancer. This site contains teen-oriented resources designed to help teens cope with their disease and treatment and connect with other teens on the same ride.
► Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
Grassroots organization dedicated to supporting, educating, connecting, and empowering AYA cancer patients and survivors.
Lacuna Loft is a nonprofit organization providing online support programs to young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.
► Smart Patients Young Adults Community
Provides online community and financial assistance for young adults ages 18-30 affected by cancer.
Provides quality of life programming that directly benefits adolescent and young adult cancer patients, survivors and their families. Program includes 1 to 1 patient outreach, peer support groups, meditation, life list grant, etc.
Online counseling services and support groups. Face-to-Face groups only in NYC.
► Escape
Escape’s mission is to provide a sense of Escape for LGBTQIA+ Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers.
Provides information, support, and inclusivity for young women of color and caregivers coping with the adversities of Young Adult cancer
Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment
This website outlines the different types of cancer, causes, risks, prevention, and diagnosis.
► The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Personalized clinical trial navigation by registered nurses.
► Blood cancer disease information
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer.
Cancer treatment can be complex, but these pages will describe your options in easy-to-understand terms. You will learn about choosing a blood cancer specialist, understanding lab and imaging tests, making treatment decisions, managing side effects, when to consider complementary and alternative therapies, and more.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, finding a doctor and a treatment facility for your cancer care is an important step to getting the best treatment possible.
► National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
NCCIH is the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine.
► National Comprehensive Cancer Network
A guide of cancer staging. If you have cancer, your doctors will want to know the extent of its growth. Cancer staging is a rating by your doctors of the extent of cancer-based on tests.
► US National Institutes of Health
Registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies.
Provides online support and local meetups to young adults with breast cancer.
Provides education, awareness, advocacy and hands-on support to young women ages 15-45 before, during and after breast cancer.
► 5Under40
Provides medical, wellness, educational, and beauty services to women under 40 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or have a BRCA mutation.
Fertility
A world renowned team of physicians dedicated to providing cutting edge fertility treatments since 1986 and has helped thousands of couples achieve their dreams of having a healthy baby. This clinic offers all aspects of infertility care, from basic evaluative testing to insemination techniques, to complex IVF techniques with innovative stimulation regimens and novel approaches to embryo transfer, egg donation and gestational surrogacy.
A national LIVESTRONG initiative dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
► Alliance for Fertility Preservation
A cancer charity working to The Alliance is made up of a team of professionals who have chosen to join together to advance the field of fertility preservation. Their members are recognized leaders with expertise in all aspects of fertility preservation including, oncology, reproductive endocrinology, urology, psychology, oncology nursing, and reproductive law.
Discussion of the fertility options for men before and after cancer treatment.
► American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
This guide helps start the discussion about fertility preservation, introduces the risks of infertility from cancer and its treatment, and provides questions to ask the health care team.
► LIVESTRONG Fertility Program
LIVESTRONG Fertility is a LIVESTRONG initiative dedicated to providing reproductive information, support, and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
► Hope for Two…The Pregnant with Cancer Network
Free support for women diagnosed with cancer while pregnant.
► The Oncofertility Consortium
Research group dedicated to exploring the relationships between health, disease, survivorship, and fertility preservation in young cancer patients. The site includes information on fertility options and a map of oncofertility centers across the United States.
ReproTech, Ltd., strives to make fertility preservation services available to all individuals who are facing fertility threatening treatment.They are a financial assistance program for patients with economic challenges.
One of the largest providers of advanced fertility treatments in the United States. They offer fertility testing and a wide range of reproductive treatments. Offices in Encino, Fullerton, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, Oceanside, Pasadena, Westlake Village, and West Los Angeles.
► National Cancer Institute: Self-Image And Sexuality
At this link, the NCI examines sexuality and reproductive issues as affected by cancer.
Help in Coping with Emotions
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles provides services that help empower cancer survivors to embrace their future as healthy and fulfilled individuals.
Elephants and Tea is a media company with the mission to help adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients, survivors and caregivers know they are not alone in their fight with cancer. The Elephant in the room is cancer. Tea is the relief conversation provides.
Coordinates a complete range of culturally sensitive psychosocial services and educational activities for young people with cancer or blood diseases, their families, professionals, and the community; and provides leadership and coordination in psychosocial health outcomes research.
► The Image Enhancement Center
Stress…chemotherapy…radiation therapy… fatigue. Unfortunately, these facets of treatment are only too familiar to patients coping with cancer. Yet there is a place to ease the challenges posed by cancer treatment: The Image Enhancement Center at USC Norris Cancer Hospital.
An online community of young adults between the ages of 20-30 with cancer.
A non-profit organization that empowers young adults affected by cancer through innovative and award-winning programs and services.
This organization based in LA and offers support that involves individual and group counseling, educational workshops and mind-body classes.
A coalition of organizations with the goal to improve the survival rates and quality of life for young adults with cancer between the ages of 15-40.
You will find information on local (Los Angeles) efforts to provide information, support, awareness, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
► weSPARK
An organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients, their families, and friends. weSPARK provides, free of charge, multiple services designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
GRYT Health is an award-winning, mobile app-based social community founded by cancer survivors and caregivers who wanted to create a more human approach to helping people live on their own terms.
► Cancer.net: Parenting While Living With Cancer
A quick article containing tips about how to cope with cancer while taking care of yourself and your famil
Gives comfort packages to people undergoing cancer treatment
Assistance in Changing Behaviors to Feel Better
The Occupational Therapy Practice ensures recovery from medical or surgical procedures, maximizes functional activity, minimizes the impact of illness or injury on daily activities, promotes adaptation and resiliency to life-changing health conditions and improves acute care outcomes.
Cancer treatment can cause physical impairments that impact your quality of life and ability to function. Obtaining physical therapy during or after cancer treatment can make the recovery process less painful more effective and can speed up recovery time so you regain function faster. USC Physical Therapy Associates provides all patients with a personalized plan of care that addresses the deficits and side effects caused by cancer treatments.
► The National Comprehensive Cancer Network
There are several options for getting back into exercising for cancer patients and survivors.
A cancer survivor dedicates his time to highlight the correlation between nutrition, exercise and cancer healing. His website has related articles, guidelines, and routines to help guide cancer patients and survivors towards a healthier life.
Cancer Nutrition is dedicated to helping cancer patients maintain a healthy diet once diagnosed with cancer and after treatment.
The nutrition necessary for cancer patients and the do’s and don’ts of what to eat.
Review of current evidence regarding the relationship between diet and cancer.
► Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services
A program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a state-certified aiming to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm in an outpatient approach. They serve youth ages 10-17 and young adults ages 18-25 by offering education and support to their families and significant others. They have an innovative approach to prevention, treatment, and recovery demonstrated by best practices in adolescent addiction medicine.
Sends free care packages to people with cancer
Provides free house cleaning services once a month for four months for women undergoing cancer treatment
Runs a yoga retreat for low income cancer survivors
Managing Disruptions in Work, School, and Family Life
► The Patient Education and Community Outreach Center (PEOC)
PEOC is a state-of-the-art facility with print and electronic cancer education and resource materials devoted to patients, their families and community members seeking information on cancer. The center also provides outreach activities and conducts informational programs relevant to the communities it serves.
This section of the LIVESTRONG website discusses the difficulties of dating while having cancer or afterward.
A platform matches and pairs a person touched by cancer with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer.
A community of cancer survivors, singles battling cancer and people ready for lasting relationships.
The American Cancer Society outlines how to care for a patient with cancer at home.
A resource on cancer in the workplace, including tips for interviewing, what your employer can and can’t do, fashion and beauty tips, and career coaches to help you through work-related transitions.
First Descents offers young adults free outdoor adventure experiences designed to empower them to climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others along the way.
Imerman Angels matches cancer patients with survivors of their same age, gender and cancer type.
Lacuna Loft is a nonprofit organization providing online support programs to young adult cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.
► EduMed
EduMed connects students with expert-driven information about education, training, and financial aid opportunities in healthcare and medical support. They help students living with (or recovering from) cancer learn effective strategies for doing well in school while dealing with the common mental, physical and emotional side effects of the disease
Financial Assistance
► David Andrew Pooh Maddan Foundation
A foundation provides financial assistance to young adults diagnosed with cancer.
This website assists cancer survivors in reaching their goal of a college education by providing scholarships in various amounts.
An organization provides assistance for cancer related costs, child care, home care, transportation to treatments, etc.
► CFAC
A coalition of organizations that help cancer patients manage their financial challenges.
A resource database for financial assistance to those with cancer.
Resource for health care planning, help with finances, employment and assistance programs.
Provides support to young adults who are struggling financially because of cancer through direct financial assistance and free online support.
Provides financial grants to young adult cancer patients ages 18-35.
Provides grants to young adults at the ages of 16-36 who are currently undergoing treatment or recently finished protocol. Grants help cover unanticipated expenses including transportation, hotels, rent, medical expenses, fertility options, integrative therapies, wigs, etc.
► Hope for Young Adults with Cancer
Provides resources and direct financial support for young adults ages 18-40.
Helps young adults ages 18-39 by funding their passions, pursuits, and hobbies as well as integrative therapies such as acupuncture, reflexology, and therapeutic massage.
► L.I.F.E.
Provides financial assistance for young adults between 18-30 who have received cancer treatment and are in financial need.
Provides financial support for researches leading to new discoveries for young adult cancers and provides an educational grant awarded to one young adult per year.
Provides financial assistance needed to travel to treatment for patients under 21 and with original diagnosis age below 18.