Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program

A partnership of the MACC Fund Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Center, the AYA Cancer Program mission is to contribute to improved survival rates and quality of life across the cancer care continuum for AYA cancer survivors in Wisconsin, and throughout the region, through the development of an AYA Cancer Program of Excellence.

AYA Program Objectives

Clinical
Our AYA cancer program will provide you quality and supportive care resources from diagnosis through survivorship, with focus on:
• Clinical trial education;
• Fertility preservation counseling;
• Health insurance/financial counseling;
• Psychosocial support and spiritual care;
• Transition to survivorship services

Education
Provide AYA education to all healthcare professionals.

Research
Build a strong, interdisciplinary AYA Research Program and improve access to clinical trials for AYA patients.

Community Outreach & Collaboration
Serve as an AYA Cancer Center of Excellence for southeastern Wisconsin, the state, the region and beyond and support the AYA cancer community by partnering with local, regional, and national organizations and programs to support AYAs, including activities like the Young Adult Oncology Group (YAOG).

Click Images to View and Download the AYA Resource Book

English Version

Spanish Version

Other Resources and Information

Open the sections for more information, documents and links.

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Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Fertility Preservation & Sexual Health Educational Resources

Links to AYA Education Modules

Froedtert Hospital Learning Center

Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Care Awareness: A Unique Population (EDS1600753)
Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Considerations in Cancer Treatment (EDS1700044)
Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Practical and Emotional Needs (EDS1700045)

Children’s University

Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Care Awareness: A Unique Population (GNED60549)
Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Considerations in Cancer Treatment (GNED60551)
Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Practical and Emotional Needs (GNED60550)

Click links or images to download the AYA resource book.

English Version

Spanish Version

AYA Cancer Research

Current AYA Cancer Supportive Care Trials at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin:

1. Fatigue in Young Adults with Cancer: Step-up Intervention for Self-Management of Fatigue in Young Adults Receiving Chemotherapy (NIH P20 Exploratory grant P20NRO15339; PI: Jeanne Erickson, PhD & Co-Is: Drs. Ann Swartz, Melinda Stolley, John Charlson, Kristin Bingen).

The goal of this study is to evaluate a 12-week physical activity intervention to improve self-management of fatigue in AYAs receiving chemotherapy. The intervention will include components of education, negotiated collaboration to set individual physical activity goals during chemotherapy cycles, and tools for self-monitoring physical activity. Open at CHW and Froedtert.

Search all cancer clinical trials at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Search all cancer clinical trials at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Recent Presentations and Publications

Bingen, K., Hoag, J., & Karst, J. (2017, Feb.). Development of an adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer program: Meeting the needs of a vulnerable age group from diagnosis through transition to survivorship. Symposium presentation, Advances in clinical care models for transitioning adolescent/young adult patients with cancer, at the 14th annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Erickson, J.M., Bingen, K., & Charlson, J. (2017, April). Physical activity preferences and needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer during chemotherapy. Poster session at the Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference in Minneapolis, MN.

Jemison, L., Erlitz, T., Myers, K., Bingen K., & Charlson, J. (2017, May). Developing an adolescent and young adult cancer pilot program: A multidisciplinary collaboration between a pediatric and adult cancer program. Poster session presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Young Adult Oncology Group (YAOG) Events

Please contact us for more details and to register for these events.

Upcoming 2020 YAOG Meetings and Events:

January – Milwaukee Bucks Game
February – Snowshoeing Hike
March – YAOG Meeting: Paint Night
April – Attend a conference
Cancer Con: April 16-19
Sarcoma Conference: April 18
Midwest Young Adult Conference: April 25th
May – Hiking with Schlitz Audubon & Game Night
June – Tailgate & Brewer’s Game
August – YAOG Meeting: Restaurant
September – Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest Hike
October – Owl Prowl Evening Hike
November – YAOG Meeting: Creative Arts/Writing
December – End of Year Celebration

Past Events (2019):

Admirals Hockey Game on January 22 2019
Snowshoeing at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center on February 2 2019
Sarcoma Conference - April 6, 2019 at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Midwest Young Adult Cancer Conference - April 27, 2019 in Madison, WI
Indoor Rock Climbing - May 18, 2019, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Adventure Rock Milwaukee
Tailgate & Brewer’s Game - June 25, 2019 at Miller Park

Biannual AYA Survivorship Conference

In 2018 we held our first biannual Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Conference : My Patient Had Cancer, Now What?

This collaboration between primary care providers and the cancer center was held on October 12, 2018. Going forward, it will be held every other year.

See you in 2020!

Learn More

Visit the National Cancer Institute's AYA cancer webpage
Search AYA clinical trials nationally at: ClinicalTrials.gov

Search all cancer clinical trials at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Search all cancer clinical trials at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin

AYA Resource Booklet:

English Version

Spanish Version