Cancer in the AYA generation
The AYA generation is an abbreviation for the Adolescent & Young Adult generation, and refers to those aged 15 to 39. The AYA generation is at risk of developing both childhood cancers and adult cancers. This generation undergoes major life stage changes, from high school to working life and parenting. AYA cancer patients face unique concerns, such as schooling, employment, romance and marriage, pregnancy and childbirth. Furthermore, because cancer in the AYA generation is extremely rare, there are few people around them to talk to, leading to social isolation. For these reasons, it is important to listen to the concerns of each individual AYA cancer patient and provide support tailored to their needs.
In Japan, approximately 20,000 AYAs are diagnosed with cancer each year. It is known that the types of cancer that are more likely to develop vary depending on age. While so-called rare cancers that tend to occur in children, such as leukemia, lymphoma, bone and soft tissue tumors, and brain tumors, are common among 15- to 19-year-olds, these cancers gradually decrease among people in their 20s, and cancers such as breast cancer and cervical cancer, especially in women, become more common among people in their 30s.
About Tokai University Hospital's AYA Generation Support Working Group
Tokai University Hospital treats approximately 150 AYA cancer patients per year.
In addition to treatment, we have established an AYA Generation Support Working Group to provide medical support to AYA cancer patients.
The team is made up of members from a variety of professions, including AYA cancer treatment physicians (gynecologists, Breast Surgery, Hematology-oncology, pediatrics, Neurosurgery, plastic surgery, and nephrology/urology), psychiatry, Department of Rehabilitation physicians, Department of Palliative Care physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, medical information support staff, cancer consultation support staff, and social workers, and provides support to AYA patients and their families.
Specifically, we provide a "Questionnaire on Ease of Living" to newly diagnosed and hospitalized AYA cancer patients, so that we can quickly understand the concerns of each patient and work to resolve them.
Main support contents
School attendance support
Since post-secondary education is not compulsory, there are no in-hospital classes, which means that AYA cancer patients who are high school or university students are forced to take a temporary leave of absence from school.
Recently, the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education has been providing academic support to high school students undergoing hospitalization and other medical treatment. It has begun a program to dispatch teachers to medical institutions and provide collaborative lessons using ICT equipment for high school students from prefectural and Yokohama municipal high schools. While private high schools are responsible for their own responses, there is a possibility that high school students in particular may be able to receive academic support while hospitalized, so please check with your school and your doctor.
Fertility preservation support
Some cancer treatments can affect fertility, potentially making it difficult to conceive in the future. This is a concern for patients hoping to become pregnant and give birth. Fertility preservation is a treatment offered to AYA patients and their families, who may experience reproductive decline due to cancer treatment, to preserve the possibility of conception before treatment. For women, the primary treatment involves freezing embryos (fertilized eggs), eggs (unfertilized eggs), and ovarian tissue, while for men, sperm is freezing. It is important to obtain accurate information about the potential reproductive decline caused by your cancer treatment and to undertake fertility preservation before cancer treatment. While it is difficult to consider future fertility after a cancer diagnosis, it is important to first obtain accurate information. While our hospital does not actually offer fertility preservation for cancer patients, we can refer patients and their families undergoing cancer treatment who are concerned about pregnancy, childbirth, or having children and would like to see a reproductive medicine specialist to a nearby reproductive medical institution. Kanagawa Prefecture actively provides fertility preservation treatment for cancer patients at designated medical institutions within the prefecture (see Kanagawa Prefecture website), and we refer many patients to these institutions. Fertility preservation can be expensive, so Kanagawa Prefecture has a subsidy system for fertility preservation treatment costs for cancer patients. Please refer to the link below for more information.
Employment support
Many members of the AYA generation are students about to enter the workforce or are in their prime working years. Many feel anxious about the impact of cancer on their job search and employment. The Cancer Counseling and Support Center offers work-related consultations. From the day they receive their cancer diagnosis, many begin to worry about financial matters, such as work, treatment costs, and living expenses. Many people worry about how to tell their employers, whether they can continue working, and how to cover living and treatment costs while on leave. Meanwhile, recent advances in cancer treatment have made it possible to live with cancer for long periods of time. Similarly, it is now possible to balance cancer treatment and work, ushering in an era where cancer can be cured while working. The government is also focusing on "employment for cancer patients," and efforts are expanding to deepen understanding not only among medical institutions but also among companies and employers who accept patients, creating a more comfortable workplace. Many patients currently undergoing treatment say things like, "I want to find employment again," "I took a leave of absence to focus on treatment, but I'm thinking about returning to work or resuming my job soon," and "I want to change jobs to one that suits my current physical strength." In this situation, the Cancer Counseling and Support Center provides support to patients who want to work while continuing treatment, as well as the many patients and families who are worried about their finances.
Support for cancer patients with minor children
Cancer patients with minor children have many worries, such as "I've been diagnosed with cancer, but I have small children and no one to leave them with," "I don't know how to tell my children," and "I'm worried my children will become anxious." If you have any questions about these issues, please first consult the Cancer Counseling Support Center. Below is a link to a website that may be of help.
For parents with children up to about 10 years old
Content: Age-specific responses/communication content: "I want to know too"
For parents with children aged 11 and over
Content: How to communicate and respond "No one understands me"
Read with your child
Contents: What is cancer? What is the treatment? What kind of disease is cancer?
Peer supporters/patient groups
Only those who have actually been diagnosed with cancer and undergone treatment can understand the concerns of cancer patients.
Cancer is particularly rare in the AYA generation, so there are few people around who are in the same situation, which can lead to social isolation. There are patient groups where people with the same concerns can share information. Don't worry about anything alone; talk to someone.
Consultation desk: Cancer Consultation Support Center
At Tokai University Hospital, AYA cancer patients can consult about any concerns they may have.
Please contact the Cancer Consultation Support Center.
First, you may wish to speak directly to your doctor or nurse.
Reception hours (excluding closed days)
Monday to Friday 9:00-15:00
1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays 9:00-12:00
Consultations are available in person or over the phone. Reservations are also possible.
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