LLS Offers Resources for Young Adults

Young adults diagnosed with blood cancer face unique challenges with treatment, support services, education, and work. They may be treated with a pediatric protocol or adult protocol depending on their diagnosis, age, and health. They may fall into a gap area of available support resources and experience disruption to their academic and career experiences. Given these challenges, LLS has developed young adult specific resources and partnered with young adult support organizations to meet the needs of this group of patients, survivors, co-survivors, and caregivers.

The LLS Young Adults page lists available resources. These include education information provided through webcasts, videos, podcasts, and information booklets. Specific young adult booklets include The Survivorship Workbook for Young Adults, a guide for collecting important diagnosis, treatment, and support information needed from the day of diagnosis and beyond, the Write It Out Journal, which provides young adults a resource to process emotions related to diagnosis and treatment, the LLS Health Manager app and the Young Adults and Cancer fact sheet.

Support resources are also available, including a weekly online Young Adult Chat, The Bloodline with LLS podcast with episodes featuring young adults, and LLS Community, an online network of patients and caregivers with groups specific to young adults. The LLS Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection® peer support program connects trained volunteers with patients and caregivers hoping to connect with someone who has had similar diagnosis and treatment experiences. Patients, caregivers, family members and others can reach out to an Information Specialist with questions and for additional resource information.

The LLS Financial Assistance program also offers grants to help offset the cost of treatment as well as other treatment related expenses like travel, groceries, and more. Click here to learn about available funds. The LLS Scholarship for Blood Cancer Survivors awards up to $7,500 towards tuition for virtual or in-person vocational, two- or four-year undergraduate education. Applications are now being accepted for 2023.

For young adults who are interested in giving back, LLS offers several volunteer opportunities including advisory groups, ambassadors, peer support and more. Learn more about volunteer opportunities by reaching out to your local regional office, or by visiting Volunteer LLS.