Teens with cancer worse off

Cancer survival rates for adolescents and young adults are worse in New Zealand than overseas, and the way they are grouped might need to change, new research shows.

A study published in the

on Friday revisited research done in

2012 showing that cancer sufferers aged 15 to 24 had worse survival rates compared with other countries. The following year, the Ministry of Health launched the Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) Cancer Network Aotearoa to help better respond to the group’s specific needs and to improve survival rates.

Last year the network considered whether it should extend the age group to include 25 to

29-year-olds as they often faced similar challenges and were counted as young adults in most other countries.

The new research drew out data on 25 to 29-year-olds with cancer between 2000 and 2009, making it easier to compare survival rates for the 15 to 29 age group in New Zealand with overseas. It found young Kiwis who get cancer have lower survival rates than those in the US, Canada and Australia.

Cancer survival rates usually improve over time, but New Zealand rates for this age group had stagnated in the past 20 years, it found. The reasons included low awareness of cancer risk, delayed diagnosis, lower participation in clinical trials, and issues with patients adhering to treatments.

An editorial published alongside the paper said: ‘‘Evidence has shown that when we try to fit young people into existing structures and services their needs are often not met. Young people ... often fall into a ‘no man’s land’ between paediatric and adult cancer services.’’

Surgery, four rounds of chemotherapy and 25 days of radiations followed in 2016 and Annandale is now in remission.

He said he had been treated in an adult ward, which could be lonely at times, but he was able to socialise with other young adults with cancer through CanTeen.

‘‘I met so many lifelong friends going through similar things. It helped normalise a very unusual situation for someone my age.’’

He was grateful for the treatment he received but believed having a separate ward for the age group would have been helpful.

‘‘When I was in hospital the only contact I had with people my own age was when my friends popped in.’’

Annandale planned to go to nursing school next year and hoped to eventually become an oncologist.

Canterbury AYA Cancer Service clinical lead Dr Ruth Spearing, who co-authored the paper, said the findings were ‘‘very concerning’’.

Several measures had been put in place since the late 2000s to improve the group’s cancer survival rates but it was too early to tell whether the rates had improved as a result.

It was still a struggle for district health boards to take part in clinical trials for the age group because of the small number of patients in that age group, which meant they might not have access to the most up-to-date treatment, she said.

‘‘The cost of setting up clinical trials for a small number of patients is too high and there is too much red tape.’’

The AYA network would meet in in February to discuss widening the age group to 29, Spearing said.

BY THE NUMBERS:

❚ About 200 people aged 12 to 24 and 150 people aged 25 to 29 are diagnosed with cancer each year in New Zealand.

❚ Survival rates for this age group lag behind international comparisons by 7 per cent

❚ In the past 10 years, 49 more Kiwis aged 15 to 19 have died of cancer than expected. Thirty-four (69 per cent) of these deaths were Ma¯ori or Pacific youths, even though they account for fewer than 30 per cent of cancer diagnoses in this age group.

Teens and young adults living with cancer, whether they are dealing with their own cancer or that of a sibling or parent, can receive support through CanTeen.