According to the NY Times, Dr. Karen Albritoon, director of adolescent and young adult oncology at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, research is crucial in determining why these cancers are rising among young people.
Trailing accidents, suicides, and homicides, cancer is the fourth-leading cause of death in young people. One reason that cancer may not be caught in its early stages is that neither the physician nor younger patients expect cancer to be a health problem.
In young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, a tumor may be estrogen stimulated. In this case, physicians might recommend blocking the patient's menstruation after chemotherapy treatment or even removing the ovaries. But because women in this age-bracket are still in child-bearing years, the decision is a difficult one.
In young men, testicular cancer is on the rise and research has not yet determined why. Thyroid cancer is another puzzle as the only known cause of this type cancer is radiation.
But some of the other problems arising among the age group are not health related, but rather emotional, mental, and financial issues. This age group is more likely to be starting their family or a career.
Plus many in this age bracket do not carry health insurance. Dealing with severe physical changes, such as losing hair and extreme weight loss, at a time when health and physical characteristics should be at their peak and experiencing guilt feelings of becoming a burden to family are depressing and can be devastating to the cancer victim.
What had once been lifelong dreams becomes a short-term goal, with majority of thought and efforts placed on medical care, family, and what the future holds.
