Cancer in Young Adults: Prevalence, Predisposing Factors, and Recommendations

Running head: CANCER IN YOUNG ADULTS
CANCER IN YOUNG ADULTS
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1CANCER IN YOUNG ADULTS
Cancer in young adults
About 70,000 young people all over the world have been suffering from cancer each year
in the United States. However the incidence of certain types of cancer varies with age. Leukemia,
lymphoma, thyroid cancer and testicular cancer are the most common types of cancer that are
found among the 15-24 years older adults1. Again breast cancer and melanoma are common
among the 25-39 years old. According to the evidences, cancer in young adults can have unique
biological features. This essay focuses on the prevalence of cancer among the young adults, the
predisposing factors and some recommendations for developing healthy habits.
Many researches have been done to identify the exact cause of cancer yet the exact
reason is yet unknown. The path physiology of cancer is complex. Cancer is mainly cause due to
genetic mutations within the DNA causing a cell to proliferate abnormally1. A mutation in the
tumor suppressor genes permits the cancer cells to grow continuously. There are few factors that
act as predisposing causes for the growth of cancers in adults. A number of forces can be
responsible for gene mutation such as smoking, exposure to radiations, and exposure to
carcinogenic agent, hormones, HPV infection due to unsafe sex, gastrointestinal reflux and
chronic inflammation1. These factors enhance the chance of developing cancer, yet the real
reason is still to be discovered.
1 Bleyer, Archie, et al. "The distinctive biology of cancer in adolescents and young adults." Nature Reviews
Cancer 8.4 (2008): 288.