Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Allison Rosenthal highlights top issues young cancer patients face, including wellness, peer support, and relationships.
DUBAI: Cancer before the age of 40 brings unique challenges that go beyond treatment, and Mayo Clinic is leading efforts to provide age-appropriate care for younger patients. Dr. Allison Rosenthal, a haematologist and oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, recently shared insights into what matters most to patients in their late teens, 20s, and 30s as they navigate treatment and survivorship.
Dr. Rosenthal, who herself faced leukaemia as a medical student, explained that younger adults often experience both physical and emotional impacts long after treatment ends. “Adolescent and young adult cancer patients often go on to live long lives, meaning they face decades of survivorship,” she noted. “It’s important we address not just the disease but also the quality of life that follows.”
Worldwide, 1.3 million people between 15 and 39 were diagnosed with cancer in 2022, with breast, thyroid, cervical, testicular, ovarian, colorectal, and blood cancers being the most common, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Based on patient feedback, Dr. Rosenthal identified three areas that younger patients frequently want to discuss:
- Wellness and exercise: Lifestyle guidance can be difficult to access and maintain during recovery.
- Peer support: Patients want connection with others who share similar experiences to avoid feeling left behind.
- Sexual health and relationships: Fertility preservation, intimacy, and relationship dynamics are often difficult to address but remain critical concerns.
The Mayo Clinic’s Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program takes a multidisciplinary approach, involving social workers, psychologists, and vocational counsellors to provide comprehensive support. The team also prioritises advance care planning, empowering young patients with advanced cancers to make their voices heard.
“Most young cancer patients do well long term,” Dr. Rosenthal added, “but if we don’t address survivorship, side effects, and long-term quality of life, we are not giving them the complete care they deserve.”
