A Support System for Adolescent and Young Adult Patients with Cancer at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

• Ishiki Hiroto

  Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Hirayama Takatoshi

  Department of Psycho-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Horiguchi Saki

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Iida Ikumi

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Kurimoto Tamae

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Asanabe Mihoko

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Nakajima Miho

  Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Sugisawa Akiko

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Mori Ayako

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Kojima Yuki

  Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Udagawa Ryoko

  Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Tsuchiya Hayato

  Nutrition Management Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Oki Mami

  Department of Rehabilitation, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Shimizu Mariko

  Center for Physician Referral and Medical Social Service, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Yanai Yuko

  Department of Psycho-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Touma Shoko

  Appearance Support Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Nozawa Keiko

  Appearance Support Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Kojima Rebekah

  Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Inamura Naoko

  Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Maehara Asami

  Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Suzuki Tatsuya

  Department of Hematology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• Satomi Eriko

  Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan Center for Physician Referral and Medical Social Service, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

• On behalf of the AYA Support Team, NCCH

Abstract

Cancer patients in adolescents and young adults (AYA) generation aged 15-39 years have various psychosocial needs during their treatment course such as school enrollment, finding employment, marriage, and fertility. It is difficult for medical professionals to gain experience related to providing medical care and consultation support to these kinds of AYA generation cancer patients. There is a need to provide information and establish both support and medical care systems that are able to meet the diverse needs unique to this generation. This review will explain how to launch an AYA support team (AST). We have worked and established the AST since 2016, which is medical care teams that provide support according to the life stage of each individual patient and build a multidisciplinary AYA generation patient support system. The team-building process consisted of two main projects: building and enlarging multidisciplinary team and establishing screening process of psychosocial needs of AYA generation patients. Multidisciplinary healthcare professionals got involved in the AST with already-existing patient support functions in our center: the patient support center, which is an outpatient department and the palliative care team, which is an inpatient interdepartmental team. The AST systematically finds patients in need of assistance and offers them support as a multidisciplinary team. The AST also established a procedure that systematically gathers information about the needs of patients by using a screening tool. In addition, the AST provides the following specialized services: reproductive medicine, supporting cancer patients with children, employment support, and peer support. The AST has been established and sophisticatedly worked. It can flexibly provide various psychosocial support services. This review will explain how to launch an AST.

Journal

• JMA Journal

  JMA Journal 5 (1), 44-54, 2022-01-17

  Japan Medical Association / The Japanese Associaiton of Medical Sciences

Keywords

• Adolescents and young adults
• Cancer
• Palliative care
• Supportive care

Details

• CRID: 1390009483106386432
• NII Article ID: 130008154550
• DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2021-0106
• ISSN: 24333298
• ISSN: 2433328X
• Web Site: https://www.jmaj.jp/download.php?id=10.31662/jmaj.2021-0106
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2023090299
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed