AUTHOR=Magni Chiara , Veneroni Laura , Silva Matteo , Casanova Michela , Chiaravalli Stefano , Massimino Maura , Clerici Carlo Alfredo , Ferrari Andrea TITLE=Model of Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: The Youth Project in Milan JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=4 YEAR=2016 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2016.00088 DOI=10.3389/fped.2016.00088 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer form a particular group of patients with unique characteristics, who inhabit a so-called “no man’s land” between pediatric and adult services. In the last 10 years, the scientific oncology community has started to pay attention to these patients, implementing dedicated programs. A standardized model of care directed toward patients in this age range has yet to be developed and neither the pediatric nor the adult oncologic systems perfectly fit these patients’ needs. The Youth Project of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan, dedicated to AYA with pediatric-type solid tumors, can be seen as a model of care for AYA patients, with its heterogeneous multidisciplinary staff and close cooperation with adult medical oncologists and surgeons. Further progress in the care of AYA cancer patients is still needed to improve their outcomes.