Co-Designing an AYA Cancer Care Program, Together

Co-Designing an AYA Cancer Care Program, Together

Collaborative efforts are now underway to co-design an AYA Cancer Care and Support Program for BC/Yukon. This past November, we invited AYAs from throughout BC/Yukon, including many from underrepresented and underserved populations, to take part in our 2025 BC Cancer Summit session, Co-Designing an AYA Cancer Care Program, sharing insight together with care providers, researchers and supporters, on key program areas not fully addressed in earlier research including system navigation, peer and virtual support, survivorship care, access to clinical trials, support for families and more.  

These insights, combined with learnings to date, such as the need for readily available counselling, improved fertility care and AYA specific resources, form the basis for a comprehensive program plan now under development including key elements and opportunities for delivery – some specific to the cancer care system, some to be initiated within community and others to be led by AYAs themselves. This plan will be widely shared throughout BC/Yukon enhanced and strengthened with the insight of AYAs, care providers, healthcare leaders, researchers and supporters ultimately guiding the way forward to ensure every AYA navigating cancer in BC/Yukon is well cared for and supported.  

Our gratitude is extended to The Rix Family Foundation, Royal Roads University and Health Research BC for supporting this pivotal work