Alexandra Paúl, Medical Manager at Further Group, shared on LinkedIn:
“Two young people with the same cancer can have very different journeys across Europe.
A new study from the European STRONG AYA project, published in Supportive Care in Cancer, explains why. Researchers interviewed 27 adolescents and young adults (15–39 years) with cancer and 25 professionals from across Europe. From these interviews they built a model showing how health systems, policies and culture shape outcomes.
Four key themes:
- Fragmented care, especially in the move from paediatric to adult services
- Financial hardship, including out-of-pocket costs and pressure to return to work early
- Unequal fertility preservation: often same-day for men, 4–8 weeks for women
- A ‘liminal’ survivorship, where support fades after treatment ends
Why it matters: the model gives a basis for AYA-specific outcome measures. It also points to clear priorities: better care navigation, timely fertility counselling, long-term survivorship support and Right to be Forgotten policies.
Better outcomes for young people with cancer need action beyond the clinic.”
Title: A conceptual model of cancer care and lived experiences in adolescents and young adults with cancer: results from the multi-national European STRONG AYA project
Authors: Nicole Collaço, Samantha C. Sodergren, Kirsty Way, Urška Košir, Charlotte Cairns, Winette T. A. Van der Graaf, Olga Husson, Anne-Sophie Darlington
See more in the gallery.
You can also read:
The Hidden Burden of Cancer Hospitalization
