Adolescent and young adult oncology: transition of care.

The fundamental purposes underlying formal health care transition from the pediatric to adult setting for young adult survivors of childhood cancer are to facilitate the continuous, medically and developmentally appropriate implementation of risk-based guidelines for the monitoring and management of late effects of childhood cancer and its treatment; and to support the normal maturational processes involved with growing from childhood to adulthood. To achieve these, this article identifies specific goals and action items in the following key areas: Models of Transitional Care, Survivor/Family Education, Post-Transitional Care Outcomes, Education of Health Care Professionals, and Health Care Policy and Advocacy. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.