Health disparities in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) oncology remain a significant challenge, with socioeconomic status, geographic location, race, and ethnicity contributing to unequal access to care and poorer outcomes. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive tools such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), offer transformative solutions to address these inequities. AI has demonstrated potential in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, tailoring treatment plans, and providing personalized patient navigation to guide families through complex care pathways. Immersive technologies have shown promise in delivering equitable supportive care, including VR-based psychological support, pain management, physical rehabilitation, and patient education. This paper explores how integrating AI and immersive technology tools into cancer care can enhance quality of life, and bridge gaps in care delivery for pediatric and AYA patients. Additionally, the increasing availability of internet-enabled devices presents an unprecedented opportunity to overcome traditional barriers to care in underserved populations. The paper also addresses critical challenges, including the digital divide, ethical considerations, and cost barriers, while proposing strategies for equitable implementation. By leveraging these technologies, healthcare providers can create more inclusive and effective treatment environments, ensuring that the benefits of innovation reach all patients, regardless of background or circumstance.

Background: Oncology patients frequently have poor symptom control, particularly for pain and nausea. The use of medical marijuana (MMJ) has become more accepted, despite overall scant evidence of efficacy. As the majority of states have legalized MMJ, it is important for oncology providers to be able to counsel families regarding the role of MMJ. We examined the perceptions of adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology patients and caregivers regarding MMJ to help providers frame their discussions. Methods: Questionnaires assessing history of recreational drug use, opinions regarding the role of MMJ in symptom management, perceived benefits, and side effects of MMJ were administered to AYA oncology patients and caregivers at three time points during treatment. Results: Twenty-four patients and 26 caregivers were enrolled. The majority of the patients and caregivers felt that MMJ should be discussed. Prior to treatment, caregivers perceived MMJ to have greater benefits than patients did. Knowing someone with substance abuse made patients and caregivers more likely to believe that MMJ would increase the risk of substance abuse and to perceive worse side effects from MMJ. Although not statistically significant, caregivers who had previously used marijuana tended to be more willing for their children to try MMJ for symptom relief than caregivers with no history of use. Conclusions: Understanding families’ prior experiences with substance abuse is important when counseling them regarding MMJ during the patient’s treatment. In general, families reported that MMJ should be discussed, but this can be influenced by the families’ prior experience.