Calgary researchers studying impact of cancer on young patients
A team of Calgary researchers is trying to understand the long term impact of cancer in a group that is often under-represented in cancer research.
The Alberta Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Survivor study is underway. It includes 25,000 Albertans diagnosed with a first cancer between the ages of 15 to 39 from 1983 onwards.
The goal is to learn more about the impact of cancer on young people not only during diagnosis and treatment but throughout their lives and assess their long-term healthcare needs and outcomes.
The principal investigator of the project said previously this population has been under-studied in cancer research.
“We're hoping by doing this study we'll be able to understand what are their unique needs when faced with cancer, not only during the treatment process but also afterwards because we understand that cancer can impact you for many years as well,” said Miranda Fidler-Benaoudia, a research scientist.
“We hope by understanding the needs of this population that we’ll be able to develop educational services, also different support networks to make their care better and that we also could do some prevention strategies.”
According to the latest numbers available from Alberta Health Services, more than 1,000 new cases were diagnosed annually from 2017 to 2019 in the 15 to 39 age group.
“Because the number of these individuals is increasing and survival is pretty good at around 80 per cent there’s a growing population that are cancer survivors and so that’s why we need to understand what are their needs,” said Fidler-Benaoudia.
She said the most common cancer-types in this age group are breast, cervical, testicular, melanoma and thyroid cancers.
Researchers say a cancer diagnosis during the adolescent and young adult years is especially difficult because it comes at a time when young people are finding their way in the world, completing education, starting careers, relationships and families.
“I experienced firsthand how our needs are often not addressed. I went from pediatric to adult care. I felt so lost, I felt like I had someone holding my hand and then absolutely no one,” said cancer patient Iqra Rahamtullah.
In August, the 25-year-old was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a type of bone and soft tissue cancer for a third time. She was 17 when she had her first diagnosis.
“As I’ve gotten older and developed an understanding of just how difficult and impactful this is it’s definitely gotten harder. Alongside that, I have my own personal goals, my career goals, and my educational goals.”
Rahamtullah said this latest diagnosis makes it difficult to plan ahead with so many unknowns. She is hoping to get into medical school.
Rahamtullah is also a research assistant on the project.
“Having this study that focuses so heavily on what we need as adolescents and young adults going through cancer is just really powerful and I think that it can help AYA’S in the future, hopefully have a better experience than what the general, AYA population is having right now,” said Rahamtullah.
Tuesday, a paper explaining the study was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
The study is ongoing and more survivors will be added to the research group in the future.
More information about the study can be found online. ayacancerab.com
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.