Abstract
The aims of this paper are to describe the ongoing development of teenage and young adult cancer (TYA) services within the European Union, and develop consensus on key areas within the field. This survey used an e-Delphi design. An initial survey was distributed via email to professionals working in Europe. A snowball sampling technique was used to promote distribution. Consensus was sought over three rounds from October 2012 – April 2015. Consensus was defined as > 80% agreement (“agree” or “strongly agree”). Sixty professionals participated in round one, 106 in round two and 61 in round three. Twenty-six countries were represented across all rounds. Consensus was achieved for; the need for national policy guidance, the importance of patient choice, the validity of the International Charter of Rights for Young People and some aspects of multi-disciplinary working. There was 75% agreement on a single definition of the patient age range within TYA cancer care. European professionals with expertise in TYA cancer care reached consensus upon key elements of care for this group. The optimal TYA age-range remained an elusive topic on which to agree. The broad engagement and interest in TYA cancer across the EU through the ENCCA network was also demonstrated.