Project 465509

In Canada, approximately 7,600 adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15 to 39 are diagnosed with cancer each year. Currently, cancer care systems have limited capacity to meet the complex needs of AYAs. Simultaneously, there is a paucity of research on the lived experiences of racialized people with cancer and there is little to no research exploring the unique cancer care realities, needs, and priorities of racialized AYAs with cancer. There is an urgent need to understand cancer care for racialized AYAs with cancer and transform the cancer care system to support more innovative, responsive, equitable, and culturally safe care for AYA patients from racialized communities. This research applies the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Patient-Oriented Research (POR) to meaningfully engage racialized AYAs with cancer and cancer care allies (health care professionals, decision-makers, researchers, organizations, and families) to better understand cancer care for racialized AYAs and explore how cancer care systems can better respond to their specific needs. This research seeks to inform cancer care research, policy, and practice to better support racialized AYAs. This research is supported by a team of early career researchers, knowledge users, mid to senior career researchers, trainees, people who self-identify as racialized and/or have expertise working with racialized communities, and partners with expertise working with AYAs and racialized communities. Partners include: racialized AYAs with cancer, Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC), Royal Roads University (RRU), BC Cancer, BC Cancer Research, the Innovation Support Unit (part of the University of British Columbia's Department of Family Practice), InspireHealth, BC SUPPORT Unit, and the BC Ministry of Health.