About the Young Adult Program (YAP)
The Young Adult Program at Dana-Farber provides emotional support services, opportunities to meet other young adults receiving treatment, and educational programs.
Young adult is loosely defined as anyone age 18-early 40s. If you are unsure whether your age qualifies, please contact yap@dfci.harvard.edu or call 857-215-2291 to see if our programs may be appropriate for you.
Young adults with cancer face very different challenges than patients who were diagnosed earlier in childhood or later in adulthood, such as:
- Adjusting to a cancer diagnosis
- Communicating with peers, family, and caregivers
- Building and maintaining intimate relationships
- Changes in body image and physical appearance
- Coping with uncertainty
- Confronting losses
- Feeling isolated
- Challenges to personal identity
- Promoting personal resilience
Our Mission
The YAP's mission is to provide clinical services and programs that validate and support the needs of young adults with cancer.
We are committed to:
- Easing the emotional burden of living and coping with cancer
- Empowering young adults to become active participants in their cancer treatment
- Providing emotional and social support
We also ensure that young adults are aware of – and have access to – all programs and resources within Dana-Farber.
The YAP at Dana-Farber is embedded within the Department of Supportive Oncology. It is also part of an international initiative to recognize and address the unique circumstances that young adults face when living with cancer.
