A digestive cancer diagnosis can turn life upside down in an instant, especially for younger adults who may be building careers, raising families, planning futures, or simply trying to live life at full speed.

We are proud to launch When Life Turns to the In-Between, a new booklet created specifically for young adults diagnosed with digestive cancers. Developed together with patients and shaped by real lived experiences, this guide was designed to support people through the shock, uncertainty, and emotional weight of the first weeks and months after diagnosis.

Too often, younger patients hear that they are “too young” for cancer. Many spend months searching for answers before finally receiving a diagnosis. And once that diagnosis comes, life can suddenly become filled with difficult conversations, overwhelming information, and major decisions that need to be made before there has even been time to process what is happening.

This booklet acknowledges those realities honestly and compassionately.

Rather than telling patients what they should do, When Life Turns to the In-Between offers practical guidance, conversation starters, and reassurance during a deeply uncertain time. It creates space for topics that are frequently overlooked in younger patients, including:

• Fertility and hormonal health
• Sexuality and intimacy
• Work, studies, and finances
• Parenting and relationships
• Emotional well-being and uncertainty
• Shared decision-making and finding your voice in care

One of the strongest messages throughout the guide is simple but powerful: you do not need to have everything figured out right away. One step at a time is enough.

The booklet also highlights the importance of patient-centred and shared decision-making, encouraging young adults to ask questions, raise concerns, and ensure that care reflects not only medical needs, but also personal priorities, quality of life, and future goals.

At DiCE, we strongly believe that patient-led and co-created resources are essential. The most meaningful support comes from listening directly to the people living through these experiences and ensuring their voices shape the tools, information, and conversations surrounding cancer care.

We are deeply grateful to all the patients and healthcare professionals who contributed to the development and review of this booklet.

You can explore When Life Turns to the In-Between.

Author:

Marianna Vitaloni