Susanne Cruickshank

Transition from child to adult services for young people with cancer

Cancers differ between children and adults, and young people who have survived malignant disease still need to mature into adulthood. Care pathways during transition to adult support should consider the age, cancer type, future risks of late effects from treatment and personal needs of the young person and family. A flexible, multidisciplinary approach is recommended but may require additional nursing skills. The development and introduction of appropriate and effective transition models are emerging as important factors in the individual patient’s cancer journey experience. More research is needed to establish which protocol represents best practice.