This article focuses on priorities and challenges for practitioners working with teenage and young adult (TYA) patients aged 16 to 24 years old in the UK. It examines the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2005) guidance on improving outcomes in children and young people with cancer, which highlights a number of important issues that affect the care pathway and care requirements for TYAs, together with priorities in care that are being addressed nationally. These priorities and challenges have implications for healthcare professionals involved in caring for this patient population. The article acknowledges that some colleagues have the perception that specialist TYA cancer care is well resourced for a small number of patients. Nurses working in the field should understand these reservations and respect the demands on adult cancer services, but continue to fight to maintain the achievements gained in this field. Irrespective of care setting, nurses must act as advocates for this group and ensure that their age-appropriate needs are considered and met to provide the best quality of care.