We are dedicated to the care and cure of patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders

Currently, the Leukaemia Foundation is developing a program throughout Australia to provide education and support to young people and their friends and familes affected by blood cancer. It will focus on evidence-based research to ensure the highest quality of care is available for young adults. It is envisaged that the mobilisation of young adult patient advocates will potentially lead to an increased awareness within the medical community about the needs of this group.

This website is intended to be a portal for young people to access information, relevant contacts, share stories and network with each other. In order for this page to be useful for young people, the Leukaemia Foundation encourages the involvement of young adults and their family and friends to define the direction of the Revive community. Become a member now...

Who we are

The Revive education and support program is designed for and by a community of young adults affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myleloma and other blood disorders.

Our Aims, Mission and Vision

• To establish a knowledge base about young adult cancer-related care.
• To provide a forum to support young adults during and after their cancer experience.
• To empower survivors to confront life positively after facing death.
• To raise general awareness about young adult oncology in order to provide support in the community (e.g. job networking).
• To work with other organisations with complementary interests, such as CanTeen and Cancer Council Australia, to avoid duplication of services or resources when addressing this gap in age-specific care.
• To raise awareness about, and provide access to, clinical trials involving this age group.

Why is it needed?

• Young adult cancer patients are an under-supported population. Furthermore, their survivorship issues are yet to be adequately addressed by the medical community.
• Young adults face a spectrum of cancers unique to their age group, especially blood related disorders.
• There is little current data regarding the numbers of young adults treated for blood related cancers in Australia.
• There is international recognition that, in contrast to younger and older patients, improvements in treatment outcomes of cancer for young adults have not increased in the past thirty years.
• Despite the lack of improvement in survival rates for this age group, the increase in the number of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer means the population of survivors is rising.
• Diagnosis and treatment during young adulthood often results in a range of unique and ongoing psychosocial issues. These may include, for example, problems with self-esteem, issues of fertility and sexuality, and coping with the fear of relapse.
• Studies have shown that many patients with cancer who had survived for five or more years reported that they continued to experience negative effects of cancer and/or treatment, such as fatigue and depression, in their daily lives.
  

In sum, the preliminary findings of the research conducted by the Revive program team indicate that:

1. The physical, emotional and social impact of cancer may persist long after the treatment/cancer has subsided.
2. The young adult age group experiences issues unique to this age in their transition to normal life.
3. There is a distinct gap in cancer-related support, education and research in Australia which addresses the above two points, i.e. young adult survivorship.

• Programs we offer
• Our supporters
• Contact us