Cancer, adolescence, and their peers: "they'll give you a story"

Following the model of other international oncology units, a framework was developed to create a special unit for adolescents and young adults (Youth Area) within a cancer research hospital in Italy by defining relevant parameters to improve personalized healthcare delivery and the reduction of the impact of the disease on 14-24 year old patients. The intervention became fully operational in 2007 and allows patients and their families to make decisions on their own care. The concept of "Youth Area" denotes an open model for society to put the patient back into the center of clinical care. We directly want to involve our adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients in participating in conferences so they themselves can send out a positive message to their healthy peers. Furthermore, activities centered on the normal development of AYA patients are encouraged. To highlight this innovative concept, the Youth Area has sponsored various published books. We believe that this intervention may represent an effective new tool for cancer patient care in young Italians.