There has been an increase in incidence of cancer in young adults. Recent research has found that obesity associated cancers are on the rise, especially in populations aged less than 50 years. Excess fat leads to changes in hormone levels and alters body metabolism and can cause DNA changes resulting in cancers. Some of them are
- Colon cancer
- Gall bladder cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Rectal cancer
- Renal cancer
Common cancers seen in adolescents and young adults are
- Bone cancers like Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma
- Brain tumors
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Soft tissue sarcomas
- Testicular tumors
- Thyroid malignancies
- Breast cancers (25-40 years)
These individuals may have inherited predisposition to cancer which is accentuated by environmental exposure like sun rays or radiation. Environmental exposures can affect and result in cancer by adding to the inherent mutational process. They pose special challenges for management.