Teen Cancer America partners with Lurie Cancer Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital to expand an Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Program
Northwestern Memorial Foundation receives nearly $500,000 from Teen Cancer America
Teen Cancer America (TCA) has partnered with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University to help expand the Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer program (AYA). This program is a joint effort of two of the clinical affiliates of the cancer center: Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and it is led by Drs. Stacy Sanford and Jennifer Reichek.
“This gift will ultimately help us expand our existing efforts and provide us with resources to standardize the way we provide optimal cancer care to a vulnerable population across the pediatric and adult medical centers and in accordance with clinical practice guidelines,” said Stacy Sanford, Director of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology for Lurie Cancer Center. “Our aim is to strive for equitable, state of the art, and age appropriate care for all AYA treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Lurie Children’s. This will enable us to better contribute to the scientific base as well. Specifically we will start by hiring an AYA navigator and program coordinator.”
With this new investment by TCA, the program will have an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of this unique patient population by developing a clinical work flow that systematically reaches AYAs receiving care in both settings and emphasizing key standards of AYA care such as:
- Coordinate comprehensive care for AYA across the continuum of their cancer care including long term survivorship
- Increase age appropriate psychosocial support for AYA patients including peer support
- Ensure all AYA are provided appropriate education and options for fertility preservation
- Ensure increased access to clinical trials for AYA patients
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend of The Who are the driving force in creating Teen Cancer America now in its fifth year of transforming the lives of teens and young adults with cancer.
Simon Davies, Executive Director of TCA said, “It is a wonderful collaboration between pediatric and adult hospitals to deliver a world class adolescent and young adult service. TCA has been supporting this initiative for two years and we are delighted to see it come to fruition.”
Teen Cancer America, Inc., is giving a gift of nearly $500,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation in support of the Adolescent Young Adult Program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Roger Daltrey is taking time out from his busy tour to deliver the check personally. Often the young patient is caught between the worlds of pediatric and adult oncology, not quite fitting into either. This program expansion will help provide a unique medical home for AYA treated in both the adult and pediatric affiliates of Northwestern’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.
To learn more about Teen Cancer America
TCA transforms the lives of teens and young adults living with cancer. TCA helps hospitals and healthcare professionals bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care by supporting hospitals and outpatient facilities in the development of specialized units and programs for this age group. Outcomes associated with some cancers that target this age group have not improved in over 30 years. For more information about TCA contact Michelle Aland michelle@teencanceramerica.org or visit www.teencanceramerica.org.
To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit http://news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html