Call to Action

"Consider Cancer" is this year's call to action with an emphasis on encouraging young adults to talk to their doctors, know the warning signs of cancer, understand what types of cancer they may be at risk for, learn about cancer screening and healthy life style choices.

About Young Adults with Cancer
Young adults with cancer between their teens and early 40's face unique concerns such as fertility, body image, cognitive function, long-term effects, education, insurance and employment. Young adults with cancer deal with distinctly different issues based on developmental life cycles of their age group, still aspiring to actualize their goals and dreams which many older cancer patients have already achieved. Young adult cancers may also have different biological factors that are now being studied so better treatments can be developed. Cancer centers are establishing young adult cancer programs and young adult oncology is becoming a specialized area of clinical focus.

Peer support for young adults facing cancer and serious illness is often weak and can lead to feelings of isolation. While healthy friends are off living their lives, a cancer diagnosis challenges the natural progression of maturity. College students may find themselves unable to keep up academically, some may lose their sense of independence by having to move home with their parents, and dating and relationships present new challenges. There are additional problems for young adults that are married with small children of their own. Unfortunately, many young adults have no health insurance and are often delayed in their diagnosis, or sometimes not taken seriously as potential cancer patients.

When Vital Options was founded in 1983 it was the first and only support and advocacy organization for young adults with cancer. Today though, there is a large movement on behalf of this age group providing myriad of services, programs, and networking opportunities which you will find in our Resources section.

In April 2003, Vital Options launched National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week®, and organizations and clinical institutions throughout North America partner to raise awareness about the unique needs of this age group.

In 2006 The National Cancer Institute (NCI), in collaboration with the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the LIVESTRONG™ Young Adult Alliance, has developed the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (AYAO) Progress Review Group (PRG). It is the first public-private partnership of its kind and is composed of prominent members of the scientific, medical and advocacy communities. Its purpose is to establish a national agenda for adolescent/young adult oncology.