I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation :: The Voice Of Young Adults

STUPID CANCER 101

Nearly 70,000 Americans between 15-40 are diagnosed with cancer each year and 10,000 will not survive, numbers 7x greater than those in the world of childhood cancer.

Unlike every other age group, there has been little to no improvement in both the quality of life and the 5-year survival of young adults in 30 years.º This is not OK. Young adults also face unique issues that are not currently being met by the current continuum of care including fertility, isolation, insurance, dating/sexuality, financial assistance, education, employment and age-appropriate peer support such as social networking, both off and online.

The past 30 years of cancer 'progress' have failed the next generation of survivors so there is no reason to think the next 30 will be any different unless change happens now.

Remission is not a cure, survivorship is all the rage and there's more to 'cure' than just research. Are you in? It's time. It's our time.

It's about time.

º source: NCI SEER Data, 2005

Feeling isolated? The channels below will connect you with hundreds of age-appropriate resources and open the door to socially network with countless thousands of young adult survivors and caregivers.

young adult support

general cancer support

scholarships & financial aid

excursions & retreats

forums & chat rooms

social networking

young adult blogosphere

coping literature

books, mags, films and media

advocacy tools

cancer creative

HEY NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS AND PROVIDERS!

i[2]y literature and promotional materials currently provide inpatient support to AYA patients at 600+ cancer centers around the world. Are we at your clinic yet? If not, please ask us to ship you our gear!