Letter: Supaport young adults with cancer

On behalf of the lymphoma community in Iowa and throughout the nation, thank you for taking the time to consider the nuanced implications of a cancer diagnosis in the lives of thousands of young Iowans each year ('Cancer rates have risen among young,” March 31).

Last year alone, nearly 70,000 of America's youths were diagnosed with some form of cancer, and lymphoma, the most common type of blood cancer, accounts for nearly 1-in-5 of these diagnoses. As a critical priority of our mission, the Lymphoma Research Foundation seeks to address the unique medical and psychosocial challenges disproportionately felt by this age group, such as delayed diagnosis and the complexities of long-term cancer-care and treatment concerns. And that is why two years ago we launched a program dedicated to young people with cancer, #EraseLymphoma.

As a native of the Hawkeye state, I take pride in seeing so many Iowans committed to standing in support of this traditionally underserved group, and I welcome you to help raise awareness among the adolescent and young adult community by visiting Lymphoma.org/EraseLymphoma.

Meghan Gutierrez

Chief Executive Officer

Lymphoma Research Foundation

New York