According to a 2006 report by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, adolescent cancer patients (including teens aged 15 to 19) have “fallen through the cracks when it comes to treatment, clinical research, resources and support services.” Because members of this age group do not fall into the typical care model for younger pediatric patients, they often face many challenges in the adult medical setting. It is because of these patients’ unique needs that legislation was signed in 2010 designating the third week of January as “Teen Cancer Awareness Week” in New Jersey.
