Cancer survivorship care poses distinct challenges for young adults in their 20s and 30s—a critical life stage that often falls outside the scope of existing Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) care frameworks, which typically focus on those aged 15–25.
This project, based in an integrative oncology unit at a public hospital in Melbourne, aims to identify and better understand the unmet survivorship needs of patients aged 20–39. The initiative seeks to inform the design of future care programs tailored to this underrepresented cohort.
A qualitative, mixed-methods approach is being used. To date, two focus groups have been conducted—one with 10 healthcare professionals and another with eight patients in the target age range. Themes identified in these sessions informed the development of an open-ended survey, which is currently being distributed to 300 patients aged 20–39 who have received cancer care at the hospital in the past two years. This will capture the views of individuals unable to attend the focus groups and broaden the scope of insights.
The project’s primary objective is to identify unmet needs, gaps in current services, and key concerns among this age group. While the focus is on needs analysis, the findings will directly inform the development of survivorship care pathways and program content tailored to young adults.
This initiative builds capability in survivorship care by amplifying patient voices and equipping healthcare providers with evidence to respond more effectively. Findings will inform staff education, referral indicators, and service development—ultimately contributing to person-centred, meaningful care for a population whose survivorship journey is often overlooked.