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Cancer, Adolescence, and Their Peers: “They’ll give you a Story”

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Abstract

Following the model of other international oncology units, a framework was developed to create a special unit for adolescents and young adults (Youth Area) within a cancer research hospital in Italy by defining relevant parameters to improve personalized healthcare delivery and the reduction of the impact of the disease on 14–24 year old patients. The intervention became fully operational in 2007 and allows patients and their families to make decisions on their own care. The concept of “Youth Area” denotes an open model for society to put the patient back into the center of clinical care. We directly want to involve our adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients in participating in conferences so they themselves can send out a positive message to their healthy peers. Furthermore, activities centered on the normal development of AYA patients are encouraged. To highlight this innovative concept, the Youth Area has sponsored various published books. We believe that this intervention may represent an effective new tool for cancer patient care in young Italians.

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Acknowledgments

Support for this research was partially provided by Associazione Rose Blu di Anita and the Dario Bobbato Memorial Fund for AYA with cancer. We thank Miss Sarah Wilson for editing the manuscript and Miss Federica Tomietto, Miss Anna Godeassi, Mr Emanuele Barison, and Mr Attilio Rossetti for the graphic support in published books. Thanks also to the director general of the Astorina publishing house, Mario Gomboli, for copyright and permission to use Diabolik subjects. Written consent for publication of photographs was obtained from the patients or their relatives.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest concerning materials/methods used in the study and/or commercial relationships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit and Youth Area, CRO National Cancer Institute - IRCCS, Via Franco Gallini 2, 33081, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy

    Maurizio Mascarin, Daniela Capone & Caterina Elia

  2. Scientific Library Unit, CRO National Cancer Institute - IRCCS, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy

    Ivana Truccolo, Elena Byther & Daniela Capone

Authors
  1. Maurizio Mascarin
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  2. Ivana Truccolo
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  3. Elena Byther
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  4. Daniela Capone
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  5. Caterina Elia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maurizio Mascarin.

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Mascarin, M., Truccolo, I., Byther, E. et al. Cancer, Adolescence, and Their Peers: “They’ll give you a Story”. J Canc Educ 29, 434–440 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0635-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0635-9

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