Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Melissa P Beauchemin, Lingyun Ji, AnnaLynn Williams, Chandylen L Nightingale, Julie Anna Wolfson, John M Salsman, Jennifer Levine, David R. Freyer, Allison Grimes, Aaron Jon Sugalski, Pinki Kumari Prasad, Brad H. Pollock, Sheila Judge Santacroce, Jessica Sheth Bhutada, Michael Roth, Susan K. Parsons
Background: Availability of guideline-endorsed, cancer-related resources for adolescents and young adults (AYAs: aged 15–39) with cancer is unknown. AYAs often receive treatment in community settings. We describe the current landscape of comprehensive cancer care resources for AYAs treated in community settings. Methods: NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practice groups completed the Landscape Assessment in 2022 to describe available infrastructure, resources, and research capacity. Practice groups were included in this analysis if ≥10% of their annual cancer cases were within the AYA age range, or at least 50 AYA cancer cases are treated annually. We described the proportion of practices serving AYA patients with access to fertility preservation, mental health services, genetic testing and counseling, nutritional counseling, distress monitoring (psychosocial and financial), palliative care, and survivorship programs. Results: Of 271 responding practice groups, 77 (28%) met criteria for treating AYAs, whereas 102 (38%) did not meet criteria. The remaining 92 (34%) could not be classified due to missing data. Among the 77 practices treating AYAs, fertility preservation was available at 51% (oocyte cryopreservation) and 58% (sperm banking) of practices. While nutritional support and genetic testing were widely available (99% and 100% respectively), only 49% of practices treating AYAs offered survivorship programs (Table 1). Conclusions: Many AYAs receiving treatment in community settings lack access to key resources for cancer care, including fertility preservation and survivorship services. Future research should seek to identify barriers and facilitators to offering comprehensive resources in NCORP practices that serve AYAs and to advance understanding of AYA uptake of available resources.
Resource | NCORP treating AYAs (N=77) n (%) |
---|---|
Genetic testing/counseling | 77 (100) |
Nutritional counseling | 76 (99) |
Psychosocial distress screening | 70 (91) |
Financial distress screening | 64 (83) |
Palliative care | 59 (77) |
Mental health services | 58 (75) |
Fertility preservation (male) | 45 (58) |
Fertility preservation (female) | 39 (51) |
Survivorship Program | 38 (49) |
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Abstract Disclosures
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