UK Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program
A cancer diagnosis at any age can be difficult. But for adolescents and young adults, learning you have cancer can be even harder. This stage of life already presents unique social, physical and emotional challenges. Cancer can add stress in school, career, family planning and other areas.
Although many cancers in young people are closely associated with childhood cancers, some are more closely linked with cancers found in older adults. Because of this, teens and young adults with cancer have better outcomes when treated at centers that care for both kids and adults – like ours here at UK HealthCare.
Our Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program brings together doctors and specialists from both the DanceBlue Hematology/Oncology Clinic and the Markey Cancer Center. Through this model of care, our experts work together to tailor treatments to the needs of our patients. We provide care for individuals ages 15 to 29.
This combined expertise – plus services that support the unique needs of young people – can make all the difference. We aim to help our patients not just survive cancer but to thrive in spite of it.
Our cancer treatment and support team
It takes a team to fight cancer. And at the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program, we have the best team around.
Our pediatric and adult cancer doctors work together with a full range of support staff to help our patients.
In addition to skilled doctors, our team includes a nurse practitioner, social worker, registered dietitian and school intervention specialist. We also offer pain management services, oncofertility counseling and genetic counseling.
Our staff also hosts dinners for patients and their families four times a year. At these events, we discuss a variety of topics. Topics can include financial planning, insurance, healthy eating or managing college after a cancer diagnosis.
AYA cancer treatment options
Depending on your cancer diagnosis, you may be treated with either pediatric or adult therapy protocols. For example, we may use pediatric protocols for AYA cancer patients who have sarcoma, lymphoma, or testicular or ovarian cancer. Or, we may use adult therapy protocols for patients with cancers that tend to affect adults, like colorectal, breast and thyroid cancers.
Our team looks at your case to decide what course of treatment will benefit you the most.
Clinical trials
Cancer treatments have been more successful in other age groups than in young adults. This may be due to the lack of adolescents and young adults taking part in clinical trials.
Through clinical trials, we strive to learn more about the biological makeup of cancers in this age group.
We want to make sure every young person in our program who is eligible for an innovative clinical trial has the chance to take part in one.
Clinical trials give you access to leading-edge treatments that can be life-changing. These trials push science forward and advance the future of cancer care for young people.
Additionally, we work with the Markey Cancer Center’s Molecular Tumor Board to identify precision medicine opportunities that can best benefit our patients. These treatments and therapies are designed specifically for each person.
Our message to AYA cancer patients
Whether you’re in college or working, we understand the many challenges you face. As a young adult with a cancer diagnosis, you may lose some of your independence. Or you may struggle to keep up with school, appointments, insurance, finances and more. It’s normal to feel anxious.
We want to help you. We are here for each step of your medical journey. We want to empower you with knowledge about your cancer diagnosis and treatment options. This will help you to make informed decisions that fit your personal goals.
Services we offer include:
- Comprehensive cancer care tailored to your wants and needs
- Supportive care services to assess need, connect you to resources, and provide emotional support for you and your family
- Quarterly educational and motivational meetings where you can connect with others your age who share similar experiences
- A school intervention specialist to serve as a liaison between you and your educational institution and to support your educational needs throughout your journey
- Pain management and palliative care
- Counseling for fertility issues for both sexes to help you make informed decisions around fertility preservation and family planning throughout the course of your treatment
- A licensed professional who can talk with you about the stress and challenges that come with your cancer diagnosis and support you as you get back on track after your treatment
- Child Life services to address the needs of children and their siblings
- If you are not seeing a provider at UK HealthCare, we are still here to help you along your journey. You can continue seeing your personal physician in your community and visit our clinic for support services when you need them.
Make an appointment
Patients
To make an appointment with the UK Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program, please call 859-257-4554.
Referring providers
Please contact Dr. Caryn Sorge, AYA medical director, and/or the AYA nurse practitioner, Dianna Holtzhauer, via UK·MDs (859-257-5522).
You may also call Dianna Holtzhauer directly at 859-562-2115, or page her at 859-330-2017.
Patients will then be placed with an appropriate physician based on their diagnosis as well as clinical trial availability.
