Vocalist Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who discussed their UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen and Young Adult Cancer Program, which serves teenagers and young adults with cancer, at the National Press Club on Monday.
Daltrey urged hospitals across America to build teen and young adult cancer units so that youth cancer patients and their families are not isolated but among a familiar environment that cultivates emotional support. He said that in England they see a 10 to 15 percent improvement in survival rates by placing teens in this environment and these units help teens and their families cope with grueling treatments and long hospital stays.
They founded the program, based at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a year ago and are now moving forward with plans for Teen Cancer America, a program to set up units in hospitals and medical centers around the country.