The Youth Project at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan

Abstract

The paper describes the key issues of the Youth Project launched in 2011 at the pediatric oncology unit of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan dedicated to adolescents (over 15 years old) and young adults (up to 25 years old) with solid tumors. The Youth Project was developed within the pediatric oncology unit in the conviction that adolescent patients may benefit from the multidisciplinary team typical of the pediatric oncology setting, as well as the expertise in treating pediatric-type malignancies and enrolling patients in clinical trials. The project was an offshoot of existing activities, making no major changes to the hospital's organization and posing no major demands on the institution's administration and board. Patients are managed by the pediatric oncology staff, but they have access to particular services (e.g., regarding their psychosocial support, fertility preserving measures, access to care after completing therapy); dedicated, adequately equipped multifunctional rooms have been provided. The location of the pediatric unit within a cancer referral center and the cooperation with divisions dedicated to adults have played an important role in the project's creation.

Adolescents’ Health Awareness and Understanding of Cancer and Tumor Prevention: When and Why an Adolescent Decides to Consult a Physician

“…The #fattivedere campaign was launched in February 2015 in Milan during two special events. One event was held at a cinema where the movie “The Fault in Our Stars,” based on John Green's bestselling book about two adolescents with cancer, was seen by 400 high school students, who afterward had the opportunity to hear the stories of four adolescent cancer patients and meet oncologists and psychologists working at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (INT) in Milan . The other event was a convention held in Milan as part of the 13th International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15, 2015, entitled “Io, adolescente, l'ospedale che vorrei” (“The hospital that I, as an adolescent, would like”), where the results of our survey were presented.…”

Single institution experience on cancer among adolescents 15-19 years of age

“…A new concept of adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology has emerged in the last decade. This new discipline, involved in patients from15 to 29 (or 39) years of age, was created by cooperative study of pediatric and adult oncologists who use patient-focused multidisciplinary approach in management of cancer treatment 20,21 . Although this program has been constituted in Europe, North America and Australia, a discipline of AYA oncology is Another possible factor for lower survival rates in adolescents with cancer is noncompliance to treatment.…”

“There's no Reason why”: A Campaign to Raise Cancer Awareness among Adolescents

“…Specific criteria identifying circumstances in which delay has occurred should accompany a defined timeline to diagnosis or treatment in every study was fundamentally important. For instance, the patients or ex-patients involved in the Youth Project of the INT Milan (a project dedicated to adolescents with cancer) (28)(29)(30) discussed the form and content not only of the video but also of the SIAMO website page. Most of these adolescents on the Youth Project had themselves experienced a delay in their cancer diagnosis.…”