From left: Ashley Hammond, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adolescent & Young Adult Oncology Program at LHSC with Dr. Andrew Arifin, Radiation Oncologist and Dr. Marta Wilejto, Paediatric Hematologist and Oncologist – the Medical Directors of the program who were instrumental in the creation of the service at LHSC.
June 18, 2025
The newly launched Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) supports patients between the ages of 15 and 39 with a cancer diagnosis to navigate sexual health and fertility options, as well as provide psychosocial support and resources. This program is run by the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre and Children's Hospital at LHSC, thanks to funding from the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO).
Patients are referred to the program by their oncologist or other members of their care team.
The program consists of a clinical nurse specialist that provides supportive care services to AYA patients with a cancer diagnosis by educating and supporting patients, identifying patients’ psychosocial care needs, connecting patients with appropriate hospital and community services and resources and improving patient experience overall as they navigate cancer treatment.
Ashley Hammond, AYA Clinical Nurse Specialist, bridges the gap between paediatric and adult cancer care services.
“The Clinical Nurse Specialist is an important connection for adolescent and young adult patients with cancer,” Hammond says. “I provide the extra support to this patient population to discuss their fertility preservation options as they begin cancer treatment and discuss psychosocial supports as they go through a transitional time in their life.”
How the program works
The program is largely virtual, meaning that outpatients meet with Hammond one-on-one through a video or phone call. Like all virtual care within LHSC, patient privacy and confidentiality is maintained during virtual appointments. Inpatients will receive in-person visits from Hammond.
After the initial referral is made from the patient’s cancer care team, the first appointment between Hammond and the patient is a general consultation.
“The general consultation is a comprehensive assessment of how the patient is doing where we review their sexual health, interest in fertility preservation and explore psychosocial care options,” explains Hammond.
Psychosocial care supports patient mental health and includes services such as social work, child life and art therapy (for patient populations ages 15 to 17), and referrals to community partners as needed.
“I refer to services within LHSC and refer out to other community resources based on what the patient wants,” shares Hammond. “This program is patient-centred, meaning that any conversations we have or resources they are connected to is dependent on what the patient identifies as a need – whether that’s counselling, fertility options or sexual health concerns.”
A dedicated service to support AYAs with cancer
Through developing this dedicated cancer support service for adolescent and young adult patients, LHSC will improve AYA patient care experiences and outcomes.
AYA patients with a cancer diagnosis are in a unique time in their lives that is filled with transitions such as going through post-secondary education, starting careers, starting families or raising young children.
“This is why it is so important to provide a space for specific psychosocial and other supports,” Hammond says. “Cancer within this patient population’s age range is not as common, and treating the identified cancer is, of course, front of mind. What this program does is provide a dedicated space for patients to discuss their unique concerns, specific psychosocial needs, as well as address their sexual health and fertility preservation questions.”
For more information about the program, please visit the AYA Oncology Program webpage.