Too young to stop intro

Life on track, the world in sharp focus

You are 24. Ready to take on the world.

And then, out of nowhere, everything comes to a standstill. Where you should be studying, starting your career, or planning an exciting trip, you suddenly find yourself in a hospital room. Your diary is no longer filled with social plans or deadlines, but with medical appointments and chemotherapy cycles.

In Belgium, almost 1,800 teenagers and young adults aged between 16 and 35 are diagnosed with cancer every year. That is an average of five young people every single day. Five life stories suddenly interrupted.

Even though cancer at a young age is relatively rare, accounting for less than 2.4% of all new diagnoses, the impact on a young person's future is immense.

At Anticancer Fund, we refuse to stand by and watch. We are dedicated to ensuring that every young person gets the best possible chance of treatment and recovery.

"When we faced the devastating third recurrence of a brain tumour in our beloved Selam, we contacted My Cancer Navigator, and the kindness and expertise of the team guided us through uncertainty. By reviewing the medical documents, directing us to options of European neurosurgery centres specialised in her type of tumour, and outlining the best treatments available, they provided us with clarity, hope, and comfort.
We are actively exploring the links My Cancer Navigator provided and will contact the hospitals recommended to discuss treatment possibilities.
On behalf of our entire family, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the remarkable support and compassion the team has shown during one of the most challenging times in our lives."

Aunt of Selam, young patient with a brain tumour (not her real name)

Our promise: Turning evidence into care

Some of the most promising cancer treatments never reach patients simply because there is no commercial interest to fund them through to adoption.

But how can this be true?

Cancer is the fourth leading disease-related cause of death among AYAs (Adolescents and Young Adults). These young people find themselves in a pivotal, vulnerable stage of life. Yet their specific needs are often overlooked because they fall between the gaps of paediatric care and adult oncology.

Anticancer Fund exists to ensure that AYAs get every opportunity they deserve. By integrating clinical research, patient guidance, and policy advocacy into one connected system, we turn clinical evidence into daily care:

teenager girl walking in the street - campaign Too young to stop

"This young girl was stuck in a system where nobody was really caring about her because of the system itself: it's so rigid that nobody takes responsibility. For two months and a half, she went through a nightmare because people had no expertise and they were not communicating. That's a typical example of an AYA patient falling through the cracks. Organisations like Anticancer Fund can help to find a solution, which in this case was a treatment abroad."

Dr. Eric Bouffet

Interview with Dr. Eric Bouffet

Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) face a unique struggle: trapped between paediatric and adult medicine, many miss out on life-saving treatments due to their age. World-renowned paediatric neuro-oncologist Dr. Eric Bouffet shares how the innovative clinical trials, supported by Anticancer Fund, and direct patient guidance, provided by My Cancer Navigator, are breaking down these barriers.

Read the full interview

The good news!

Survival outcomes for adolescents and young adults are steadily improving. Groundbreaking research shows that with tailored treatments and specialized care, we can transform the lives and long-term quality of life for young people facing cancer.

From clinical evidence to a future.

teenager girl wakling on a bridge - campaign Too young to stop

Evidence

Anticancer Fund starts from existing research and fund our own independent clinical trials, stepping in where commercial interest is absent to prove which treatments truly work. For instance, together with international partners, we are launching the FOSTER-CaBOS trial for osteosarcoma (bone cancer), a rare cancer primarily affecting young people, in which the pharmaceutical industry rarely invests. Thanks to this study, 530 young patients across 20 countries will gain access to an innovative, promising treatment.

Guidance

Through our physician-led information service, My Cancer Navigator, we offer AYAs and their loved ones personalised, individual support. Leading experts such as Dr Eric Bouffet, a renowned specialist in AYA oncology, guide patients towards the best treatment options grounded in independent research and published guidelines, seamlessly bridging the gap between clinical evidence and personal support.

Adoption

We engage with European policymakers, regulatory authorities, and hospitals to remove the barriers that block proven treatments from daily clinical practice. A success story is the Boost Your Mind trial funded by Anticancer Fund: an evidence-based study that led to the establishment of the Leuven Mindfulness Centre at UZ Leuven, embedding psychological support into standard care.

What your support builds

Every young person with cancer deserves access to the best possible treatment. And every piece of clinical evidence that could save or improve a life deserves to be acted on.

As a donor, you build the system that makes this possible. With your support, you:

Fund independent clinical research that would otherwise remain overlooked.
Provide young patients with clarity, hope, and expert guidance during the most challenging period of their lives.
Remove systemic barriers, ensuring medical breakthroughs do not stall, but reach the patients.

Cancer puts young lives on hold. With your support, we help move them forward.

Together, we turn clinical evidence into care.

Donate now