Progress: LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance Update

I spent my entire day yesterday (8:30 am – 5 pm) sitting in a conference room talking about cancer. Some could assume this isn't your ideal day and might be your stereotypical long drawn out board room meeting that had much to be desired. To me, it was nothing of the sorts!

I was surrounded by 20+ friends and partners for our quarterly face-to-face meeting of the LIVESTRONG YOUNG ADULT ALLIANCE. It was informative, inspiring, enlightening and motivating. Surrounded by some of the top oncology professionals, researchers and fellow patient advocates in the country, it’s incredible to see the progress that has been made in the world of adolescent and young adult oncology.

Don’t get me wrong, we have a long way to go, but for today we can say we’re on the right track and most importantly, working together – Medical Professionals, Researchers, Government Agencies, Patient Advocacy Groups and Medical Institutions. The Alliance is a coalition of 70+ other organizations that weren't at the meeting but are doing the important work needed day in and day out to support young adults fighting cancer.

Also special about this meeting was we were just down the street from the National Cancer Institute and we had several of their key staff attend the meeting to report on progress they’re making in implementing the recommendations outlined in the AYAO Progress Review Group.

A couple exciting resources I learned about yesterday:

LIVESTRONG has launched a portal of young adult specific resources

LIVESTRONG hosts young adult podcasts

National Cancer Institute has a toll-free # and LiveHelp on-line chat service free to all cancer patients: 1-800-4-CANCER and LiveHelp On-line Chat

Learn more about the work of the LIVESTRONG YOUNG ADULT ALLIANCE and our work to implement the AYAO PRG

LIVESTRONG!

Brock Yetso
Executive Director