PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Robert Carr AU - Myrna Whiteson AU - Melinda Edwards AU - Sue Morgan TI - Young adult cancer services in the UK: the journey to a national network AID - 10.7861/clinmedicine.13-3-258 DP - 2013 Jun 01 TA - Clinical Medicine PG - 258--262 VI - 13 IP - 3 4099 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/13/3/258.short 4100 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/13/3/258.full SO - Clin Med2013 Jun 01; 13 AB - The past decade has seen the development of a network of specialist teenage and young adult cancer centres across the UK. These provide expertise in treatment across the spectrum of malignancies that occur in young adults, supported by multi-disciplinary teams that are able to provide the psycho-social support so necessary for this age group, and in a hospital environment that encourages social interaction while delivering expert medical care. The development of teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer as a specialty gained establishment backing in 2005, through NICE guidance which mandated that all 16- to 24-year-olds should be referred to specialist TYA cancer centres. The foundation of this achievement was set by a handful of committed individuals and the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that has acted as patient advocate and political pressure group, and that has brought to public attention the need for change while providing support for specialist staff and hospitals.