Newly diagnosed cancer patients in their 20s may be referred to a pediatric cancer center for treatment rather than an adult cancer center. Some of the nation’s top children’s hospitals have Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) programs specifically designed for this special population.

“We want every young adult with cancer to get the best care possible, access to cutting-edge clinical trials, and have the best odds at survival. In many cases, for a variety of reasons, the best place for them to go is a pediatric cancer center,” says Dr. Tyler Ketterl, medical director of the Seattle Children’s AYA Cancer Program. Pediatric oncologists at Seattle Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (CBDC) routinely treat patients in their late teens and 20s and even some patients in their 30s.

Dr. Ketterl lists the primary reasons that pediatric treatment is the best choice for many young adults. Read full post »