title: Young adult cancer services in the UK: the journey to a national network.
abstract: The past decade has seen the development of a network of specialist teenage and young adult cancer centres across the UK. These provide expertise in treatment across the spectrum of malignancies that occur in young adults, supported by multi-disciplinary teams that are able to provide the psycho-social support so necessary for this age group, and in a hospital environment that encourages social interaction while delivering expert medical care. The development of teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer as a specialty gained establishment backing in 2005, through NICE guidance which mandated that all 16- to 24-year-olds should be referred to specialist TYA cancer centres. The foundation of this achievement was set by a handful of committed individuals and the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that has acted as patient advocate and political pressure group, and that has brought to public attention the need for change while providing support for specialist staff and hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, UK. robtcarr@gmail.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Myrna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whiteson
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Teenage Cancer Trust; teenage and young adult cancer services; transitional care