The Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program provides medical care and support services for patients up to the age of 21 at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and in collaboration with adult oncology specialists at UCONN Health Center for adults up to 40 years old.

This important new program has been made possible through the generosity of the Reid R. Sacco Memorial Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to promote scholarship, medical research, and other benevolent purposes which, directly or indirectly, correlate with the values, ambitions, and life of Reid Sacco.

Although there are 70,000 patients ages 15-39 diagnosed with cancer each year, there has been no improvement in survival rates in the past 20 years.  There are a variety of reasons for this disparity including the decreased likelihood that adolescents and young adults will receive a prompt diagnosis or be enrolled on a clinical trial for innovative treatment.  It is notable that while 60% of children less than 15 years of age are enrolled on clinical trials, there are less than 15% of those 15-19 years old and less than 2% of those 20-29 years old enrolled on clinical trials.

The AYA Cancer Program includes a multidisciplinary team including specialists in oncology, general surgery, orthopedic surgical oncology, radiation oncology, nurses, social workers, a consulting psychologist, radiologists, and patient life specialists.  We treat patients with a wide range of cancer diagnoses including Leukemia, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, soft tissue and bone sarcomas, brain tumors, and germ cell tumors.

Dr. Michael Isakoff leads the AYA Cancer Program and has a special expertise in bone and soft tissue sarcomas.  Consultations with patients occur in the outpatient clinic at CCMC and in the inpatients settings at CCMC along with regional adult care hospitals for patients less than age 40, including at UCONN Health Center and St. Francis Hospital.  Each patient’s physician participates in the coordination of care and medical decision-making discussions with parents and patients.  When appropriate, patients who are eligible are given an opportunity to enroll on a clinical trial.

Resources for Patients 
www.grouploop.org
Group Loop is a safe place for teens with cancer and their parents to build an online community to find support, education and hope while dealing with a cancer diagnosis. 

www.teenslivingwithcancer.org
A site for teens with cancer “who have a lot of living to do!” providing education and online support.

www.chemo.starlightprograms.org
“Coping with Chemo” helps teens with cancer to navigate their chemotherapy treatments through education and by fostering connection with others online.

www.outlook-life.org
Outlook:  Life Beyond Childhood Cancer provides great information on life after childhood cancer.

www.curesearch.org
Cure Search National Childhood Cancer Foundation is committed to help find treatments and cures for childhood cancers.  Get facts, current news, specific diagnosis information and resources.

www.vitaloptions.org
Vital Options is one of the first organizations to support young adults with cancer.  They offer The Group RoomÒ radio show, a weekly syndicated cancer talk show that is also simulcast on the World Wide Web and XM Satellite Radio.

www.planetcancer.org
Planet Cancer is a community of young adults with cancer.  It’s a place to share insights, explore fears, laugh, and be updated on the latest young adult cancer news.

www.ulmanfund.org
The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, founded by survivor Doug Ulman, provides support and resources for young adults with cancer and scholarships for college students with financial need who are battling or have overcome cancer.

www.laf.org
The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of survival of those living with, through and beyond cancer through support programs, survivorship resources, advocacy and clinical research.

www.thesamfund.org
The SAMFund is a nonprofit organization created to assist young adult survivors of cancer with a successful transition into their post-treatment life by providing financial support through the distribution of grants and scholarships.

www.realtimecancer.org
Realtime Cancer is a Canadian young adult cancer support site founded by Geoff Eaton, a leukemia survivor.  RTC focuses on facing cancer with a positive attitude.

www.2bme.org
Learn how to care for your skin, cool ways to cover your head, health & fitness and how to deal with friends.

www.fertilehope.org
Provides reproductive health information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility