Unique Considerations for Adolescents and Young Adults

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology patients are commonly defined by the National Cancer Institute as individuals aged 13–39 years [1, 2]. For the purpose of this chapter, we will focus on the subset of early AYA age 13–21 years (AeYA) as this younger age group is more representative of the ages of AYA most commonly treated in pediatric hematology-oncology centers. Adolescence is a unique developmental period characterized by biological, psychological, and social tasks which vary as an individual passes from early adolescence through mid-adolescence and onward to late adolescence [3]. AeYA represents a unique patient population, positioned between childhood and burgeoning adulthood. This developmental stage is marked by rapid brain maturation and neurocognitive advances; one such example of psychological development is the shift from concrete thinking patterns to more complex abstract thought patterns [3–5]. Socially, the period of adolescence is typically marked by the emotional separation from parents, stronger identification with peers, and greater social autonomy as the AeYA moves toward independence [3–6].