Trends in palliative care for young adults with advanced cancer: Insights from ACS

July 23, 2026

Key Highlights

Palliative care use among young adults with cancer has doubled since 2010 but remains under 20% in 2023.
Patients with lung, stomach, kidney, breast, and pancreatic cancers are more likely to receive palliative care.
Researchers call for efforts to remove barriers and improve access to palliative care for young adult cancer patients.
Enhanced palliative care can significantly improve quality of life for young adults facing advanced cancers.

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The American Cancer Society (ACS) has published a study reviewing palliative care trends in young adult cancer patients. Key findings are reported in a press release.

Data from more than sixty-seven thousand 18-39-year-olds who had stage IV solid tumors or poor-prognosis high-grade brain tumors in 2010-2023 was reviewed by ACS researchers. Key findings:

The amount of young adults that experienced palliative care with their cancer treatment has doubled since 2010.
Still, fewer than 20% received palliative care in 2023.
From 2021-2023, the percentage of young adults receiving palliative care only increased by one.
Patients with lung, stomach, kidney, breast, and pancreatic cancers were more likely to receive palliative care compared to other cancers.

The researchers are emphasizing the importance of removing barriers, improving access, and increasing palliative care in this population to improve their quality of life.