Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Sarcoma Program was developed to provide comprehensive clinical care uniquely tailored to the needs of adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39) with sarcomas while advancing our understanding of these challenging diseases through cutting-edge research.
What is AYA?
AYA stands for “adolescents and young adults” and includes patients between the ages of 15 and 39 years.
Sarcoma and AYA
Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that arises from the connective tissues of the body (bones and soft tissues such as muscle and fat). There are over 150 types of sarcomas, and they are treated in many different ways.
Sarcomas affecting adolescents and young adults are rare and have not been studied as well as other types of cancers. These tumors and their treatments create major challenges. For AYAs, these challenges occur during the important years when individuals are finishing school and building a career and family.
