today is world cancer day, a day to raise awareness and encourage prevention of one of the world’s most feared disease. one aspect of cancer awareness – and support – that our country is decidedly less aware of is cancer in young adults.
that’s where young adult cancer canada (yacc) comes in. the non-profit organization works to connect young adults dealing with cancer into like-minded communities for solidarity and understanding, raise awareness for this underserved demographic, and host survivorship workshops and retreats across the country.
“when you’re a young adult with cancer, you’re usually the first one of your buddies to have deal with it, as i was, and you end up dealing with it in isolation from other people who can understand,” said geoff eaton, the founder and executive director of yacc. “that proves to be a massive part of the challenge they’re facing.”
every day in canada, 22 young adults are diagnosed with cancer.
eaton was diagnosed with cancer at 22 and 25, which is when he began building what would become yacc back in 2000 out of st. john’s, newfoundland.
a recent study published by yacc reveals the extent to which young adults, here meaning anywhere between 15 and 39, are left by the wayside when it comes to conversations on cancer. out of 622 diagnosed young adults, 49 per cent missed between one to four years of work. forty-three per cent over the age of 35 reported having less than $100,000 in assets, compared to just 17 per cent of their non-cancer peers.