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Teen Cancer Facts

Cancer is a scary word, especially for teens. Cancer in teens is rare, and most teens are able to beat it. Though all cancers are different, they have some things in common. Knowing some teen cancer facts can help living with cancer a little bit easier.

  1. What is Cancer?

    • Cancer is a medical condition in which cells start to grow abnormally. Normal cells will grow, then divide and die. Cancer cells, however, live longer than normal cells and as they divide, they create more abnormal cells. Eventually, the cancer cells begin to crowd out the good cells.

    Causes

    • Cancer can be caused by a number of things, including genetic or inherited factors. They also can be caused by specific triggers, such as too much sun or smoking. The majority of teen cancers have no known trigger or genetic cause; they seem to "just happen." The most common types of teen cancer have no known cause. If a teen develops skin cancer, it could be because of too much sun exposure. However, skin cancer in teens is quite rare. If a teen has a family member who has had cancer, he may be predisposed to cancer, but this is not a cause, it is just a risk factor.

    Cancer is Not Contagious

    • A common misconception is that cancer is contagious, but it is not. Cancer is not a disease that can be spread from one person to another. Cancer cannot be spread through kissing, sharing a cup, shaking hands or hugging a person with cancer.

    Is Cancer Treatable?

    • The majority of teen cancers can be treated. Once treated, most teens who have had cancer go on to lead happy, productive and long lives. Though some long-term effects may occur from treatment, these effects can be managed by medications and certain lifestyle changes. Currently, the teen cancer survival rate is approximately 85 percent, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The survival rate has increased significantly from 30 years ago, when it was only about 60 percent. As medical technology continues to evolve and improve, the survival rate of teen cancer will most likely improve as well.

    Types of Teen Cancer

    • The most common types of teen cancer include lymphoma, leukemia, brain cancer and sarcoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood, particularly the white blood cells. Brain cancer is a cancer of the brain. Sarcoma is a cancer of the body's connective tissues. Connective tissues include cartilage, bone and fat. Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the two most common types of sarcomas that affect teens. Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer. Ewing's sarcoma is also a type of bone cancer, but it mostly affects the bones of the leg or pelvis.

    Medications

    • All types of cancer require medication. Understanding these medications can be difficult for teens. Chemotherapy is the most commonly used drug to help kill cancer cells. It is most often administered through an IV. It can cause several side effects such as nausea and hair loss. Since cancer and many of the drugs used to treat it and its side effects can cause nausea, anti-nausea drugs are often prescribed. Teens with cancer often become depressed, so antidepressants may be prescribed. Steroids may be used to help aid the immune system in fighting the cancer. Cancer can be painful, so pain medications may be prescribed to help teens deal with their pain.

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