Lisa and Scott Stuart Center for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancers

Treating Adolescent and Young Adults at MSK

This comprehensive clinical and research center is transforming the experience, care and outcomes for adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Read More

Have Questions? 

Get in touch with us by emailing us at [email protected].

 

VIDEO | 03:18

The Stuart Center: Transforming Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer

Learn more about the mission of the Lisa and Scott Stuart Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers at MSK.
Video Details

Discover More
woman on phone using laptop
Virtual Programs
Our live, moderated, online support and educational meetings provide a confidential and cost-free environment for discussing concerns related to cancer and its treatment.
View programs

As patients at MSK, we all have one thing in common. The AYA program really catered to me. You get to meet others going through your situation. Sometimes you really need that validation, to know 'I'm different but you did it, and maybe I too can do this.'

Desiree Allen, diagnosed with sarcoma at 31

After the first month, I received outpatient care. Kids want to sleep in their own beds at night. I missed my freshman and sophomore year of high school, but MSK sent teachers and set me up with tutors, and I graduated on time.

David Asch, diagnosed with leukemia at 14

At MSK, it's not just about hitting the cancer with medicine. There's a well-rounded approach, and [the AYA team] is always just a phone call away.

Tyler Wong, diagnosed with sarcoma at 25

MSK is a part of my family. They saved my life.

Eliza Wierzbinska, diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at age 30

 

Our Leadership Team

The Stuart Center is led by Dr. William Tap, Chief of MSK’s Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service, and Dr. Julia Glade Bender, Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Pediatrics. 

Get in touch

Email [email protected] or call 646-608-8336 for questions and inquiries.  

Our Research

We want adolescents and young adults to benefit from more clinical trials testing new treatments. MSK is working to break down the age barriers for participating in studies and include a full age range when applicable. The Stuart Center will create links to make it easy to find clinical trials, and synthesize information to create standard treatment protocols.

Find a clinical trial

A young man who was treated at MSK poses with his dog

Michael, diagnosed with sarcoma at age 18 

 

A young woman smiling with her cell phone

Karolina, diagnosed with sarcoma at age 26

 

Our Technology

Our app, The Lounge, helps you connect with your peers who have or had cancer to share experiences, get reliable answers to questions, and find the right resources for you. We also use technology to make it easier for you to keep up with appointments and stay connected with your care team.

A young man sitting in a restaurant with a slice of cake in front of him
No Longer Left Behind in Cancer Clinical Trials
Nearly every advance in cancer care today is possible because of clinical trials. MSK is breaking down the age barrier that has made it hard for young patients such as Irving Romero Torres to participate in and benefit from clinical research.
Woman holding infant
But How Will I Have a Family?
MSK’s fertility experts and nurse specialists counsel more than 800 patients every year. Their guidance gives patients hope that they can have a family — and helps them focus on the future.
MSK patient David Asch
Life Beyond Cancer
Meet a few of our brave and determined young patients who are thriving after receiving treatment at MSK.

Featured News

Podcast
Hear the latest research about what may be contributing to the alarming trend of young people getting cancer earlier in their lives than previous generations.
What's Causing Cancer Rates to Rise in Gen X and Millennials?
Hear the latest research about what may be contributing to the alarming trend of young people getting cancer earlier in their lives than previous generations.
MSK patient Charisma McDuffie is seen smiling outdoors.
The Latest Research on Why So Many Young Adults Are Getting Cancer

Get 2024’s latest research updates from investigators across MSK on why so many young adults are getting cancers.
MSK patient Dana Vergara smiles as she holds her baby Hudson.
Baby Hudson Makes History

Learn about Dana and the uterine transposition surgery at MSK in NYC, that enabled her to give birth to a baby named Hudson, who made history.
MSK's Dr. Andrea Cercek greets John Bonito, Kelly Spill, and their newborn, Mya Grace.
It’s Personal: An MSK Doctor Meets a Patient’s Newborn Baby

Learn how a heralded clinical trial for rectal cancer led to Dr. Andrea Cercek of MSK meeting the 4-day-old newborn of her patient, who feared she could not get pregnant.
Kelly Spill is seen outdoors holding her newborn and talking with Dr. Andrea Cercek of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The Rectal Cancer Clinical Trial at MSK That Changed Everything for Its Patients

Learn how a heralded clinical trial that made rectal cancer disappear for every participant is being expanded at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The trial uses only immunotherapy that targets a rare mutation — without the need for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
Woman in field with dog dressed as tiger
A Surgical Milestone To Protect Fertility in Young People With Cancer

MSK surgeons do an innovative procedure called a uterine transposition — the first performed in the U.S. — to preserve a woman’s fertility during cancer treatment.
Feature
Irene Dimatulac sitting at a table in a restaurant
MSK’s Adolescent and Young Adult Program Supports Patients Throughout Their Treatment Journey

After graduate student Irene Dimatulac was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her knee, treatment at MSK — and support from MSK’s Adolescent and Young Adult Program — allowed her to get back to her life.
Desiree Allen
Caught Between Two Worlds: How MSK is Connecting to Young People with Cancer

MSK is helping young patients navigate their journey and get the best treatment through specialized counseling, digital connections, and more. “The gratitude I feel is so deep. I’m not just alive; I’m living,” says Desiree Allen.

Life, Interrupted: When Young Adults Get Cancer

A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event for anyone, especially for adolescents and young adults who are just getting their bearings in life. In this episode of our podcast Cancer Straight Talk, Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes sits down with MSK social worker Hadley Maya to discuss the effects of a cancer diagnosis on a young person’s identity, career, relationships and more.

Listen to the podcast

Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD, with title Life, Interrupted: When Young Adults Get Cancer.

Support for AYA at MSK

Philanthropy is essential to advancing the mission of the Lisa and Scott Stuart Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The Stuarts’ transformative gift will allow MSK doctors and scientists to advance research and care for this unique population for decades to come. Other visionary donors have helped lay the groundwork for this progress. The following donors have made significant gifts that have been instrumental in the center’s launch and early success:

  • The Kristen Ann Carr Fund
  • Cycle for Survival
  • The Friezo Family Foundation
  • JHSF/Instituto José Auriemo
  • Kevin Zoltan Merszei Foundation
  • Tom and Janet Montag 
  • Jamie Nicholls and Fran Biondi
  • Nonna’s Garden Foundation
  • Olayan Group
  • The Laura Rosenberg Foundation Inc.
  • The Sohn Conference Foundation
  • Teen Cancer America, funded and supported by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who
  • Tow Foundation