Aya Cancer

Lesbian, gay and bisexual survivors of adolescent and young cancer are twice as likely to develop chronic health conditions than their heterosexual counterparts, according to a study published in Cancer.

Certain sociodemographic and modifiable risk factors appeared associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, according to research published in Cancer.

In this edition, AYA cancer survivors are at higher risk for death due to second primary cancers; a radiation technique reduces symptomatic esophagitis in patients with advanced lung cancer; a phase 3 trial of tiragolumab plus atezolizumab misses its co-primary endpoint; and more.

Adolescents and young adults with sarcoma prescribed opioids for pain often continued using those substances after treatment completion, according to study results published in Cancer.

Data from the ZUMA-11 trial showed that the addition of utomilumab after infusion with axicabtagene ciloleucel may lead to improved outcomes in patients with advanced large B-cell lymphoma.

Worldwide prevalence of sporadic colorectal cancer— long viewed as a disease of older individuals — has increased steadily among those aged younger than 50 years during the past decade, according to a review paper in The Lancet Oncology.

Death due to a second primary cancer occurred nearly twice as often among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors compared with the general population, according to study results published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Multiple surveys of AYA patients and several guidelines defining best practice have included an AYA-friendly or “age-appropriate” environment as an essential element of care. Although patients of all ages deserve healing health care environments, there are logical reasons for the preeminence of this aspect of care for AYAs compared with patients of other ages. A dedicated AYA space facilitates the achievement of the other key elements of age-appropriate care, as well.

Going through cancer during transitional adolescent and young adult years can present additional social, financial and mental health challenges that add to the stressors of diagnosis and treatment.