Carole Farrell and Kate Law explore how to meet the needs of this patient group as they cope with cancer at a crucial stage in their development

As the needs of teenagers and young adults (TYAs) with cancer are complex and different to those of children and adults it is crucial to have age-appropriate specialist care. Although there have been tremendous developments in this area by organisations such as the Teenage Cancer Trust, CLIC Sargent and Macmillan, further improvements are needed in care transitions and pathways. The success of local and national service innovations stems from the involvement of TYAs working in partnership with health professionals to ensure that care is age appropriate and their needs are met. Specialist liaison nurses are valuable in providing continuity of care across health settings at all stages of cancer, including end of life.

This article provides insight into clinical services for TYAs with cancer, focusing on the role of specialist liaison nurses, and discusses the implications for patients, their families and health professionals.