Understanding the state of adolescent and young adult cancers and how to support patients and survivors

By Evan Dawson,

Published April 15, 2024 at 3:28 PM EDT

Five people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: A woman front left with long brown hair is wearing blue/green glasses and a blue dress with a white pattern; a man front right has white hair and a white beard and is wearing black glasses, a red, white, and blue plaid shirt and yellow pants; a woman back left has long dirty blonde hair and is wearing a dark dress with a red design; a woman back right has long dark hair and is wearing a floral print red/orange dress; and a man at right with short dark hair is wearing jeans and a blue hoodie that says "WXXI." — (foreground) Jamie Flerlage and Charlie Cote, (background) Michaela Deeg, and Katelyn MacDougall on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, April 15, 2024

Data shows cancer rates among younger people are on the rise.

According to research, survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers are more likely than their peers to experience mental health challenges.

This hour, we discuss the state of adolescent and young adult cancers and how to support patients and survivors in holistic ways.

Our guests:

Lauren Spiker, founder and executive director of 13thirty Cancer Connect
Katelyn MacDougall, program director for 13thirty Cancer Connect
Michaela Deeg, community engagement manager for 13thirty Cancer Connect, and cancer survivor
Jamie Flerlage, M.D., associate professor in the Cancer Center and the Departments of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center
Charlie Coté, licensed social worker in private practice; board president for 13thirty Cancer Connect; and bereaved father whose son, Charlie, died in 2005 at age 18

This story is reported from WXXI’s Inclusion Desk.