About five percent of all cancer patients are diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 39. No longer children, and often not yet fully adults, they've been in a lost generation. Why are young adults different compared to anyone else dealing with cancer?
Young adults with cancer have unique and long neglected needs.
- Health insurance
- Assistance with relationships
- Intimacy
- Sexuality
- Fertility
- Career planning
- Improved cancer care
- Better psychological, psychosocial, and psychospiritual support
- Different cancer treatments
- Help with long-term side effects from cancer treatments
Along with better direct support to young adults with cancer, an urgent need exists for young adult cancer research. Why? Young adults develop entirely different cancers than any other age group. Also, the reasons why young adults get cancer are unique compared to other ages. Cancer treatments given to children and adults are often not appropriate for young adults. Of course young adults need the best possible cancer treatments. Improvements are urgently necessary.
Young adults with cancer need better help. Often beginning to emerge into the world, cancer systems and care must improve to support them in negotiating their challenges.
The staggering statistics illuminate the reality.
- More than 70,000 young adults in their teens through their late 30s are diagnosed with cancer every year in the United States. That translates to one person every eight minutes.
- Approximately 10,000 young adults die annually due to cancer, which is one young adult between the ages of 15 and 39 every hour.
- Of the 14 million cancer survivors in the United States, one in 10 is under 40.
Over the last 20 years, overall survival rates in young adults with cancer have reached a plateau.
Over the last 30 years, this unfortunate reality has developed and not improved.
- Cancer is now the number one killer in young adults.
- Young adults are the most underserved patient population by age.
- Young adult cancer incidence has increased more than any other group.
- Survival rates have not improved at the same rate as other age groups.
- Delayed diagnosis of cancer is now disproportionately higher in young adults.
National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week from April 3-9 each year brings more awareness to the needs and broken systems for young adults with cancer. Constantly further ignited, the movement advances action.
This video provides information about issues specific to young adults with cancer and some ways to help the next generation of young adult cancer survivors. Unite together to help our youth with comprehensive care with, through, and beyond cancer.
For More Information
Young adults with cancer can transform their challenges into opportunities in part by connecting with organizations helping young adult with cancer. In particular, I'm Too Young for This! Cancer Foundation in their Resources section lists other young adult cancer organizations.
To learn more about cancer care for the whole person, explore integrative cancer care resources from EmbodiWorks addressing body, mind, and spirit, including social and environmental health. Integrative cancer care reduces cancer risk, improves cancer-related survival, and quality of life.
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