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Understanding Cancer in Teenagers

Cancer is a disease typically associated with older adults, but it can affect people of any age, including teenagers. Unlike in adults, cancer in teenagers is quite rare, making up a small percentage of total cancer cases. However, the impact of such a diagnosis can be particularly profound on young people and their families.

The types of cancers that teenagers are most likely to encounter differ from those typically seen in younger children or adults. For instance, teenagers are more likely to be diagnosed with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, osteosarcoma (bone cancer), germ cell tumours (including testicular and ovarian cancers), leukaemia, and brain tumours.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of cancer in teenagers is often not clear, but it's generally understood to be due to genetic mutations that cause cells to grow uncontrollably and not die. These mutations can be the result of genetic predispositions, environmental factors, or likely a combination of both. For example, exposure to ionising radiation or having a family history of certain types of cancer can increase a teenager's risk. However, many cancer cases occur without any obvious risk factors.

Impact on Young People

Being diagnosed with cancer can be a shocking and life-altering event for a teenager. Beyond the physical effects of the disease and it's treatments, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, the emotional and social impacts are significant. Teenagers are at a crucial stage of developing their identity and independence, and a cancer diagnosis can disrupt their normal life in many ways:

• Education: Treatment schedules and physical side effects of treatment can cause absences from school, impacting a teenager's education and social life.
• Social life: Hospital stays and limitations due to illness can lead to isolation from friends and peers at a time when social relationships are increasingly important.
• Mental health: Dealing with a serious illness can contribute to anxiety, depression, and feelings of anger or confusion during a period already complicated by normal adolescent development.

Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis

For teens facing cancer, there are practical strategies to manage the disease and maintain a quality of life:

1. Seek Information

Understanding what you are dealing with can significantly reduce anxiety. Teens and their families should not hesitate to ask detailed questions about the diagnosis, treatment options, side effects, and long-term prognosis. Knowledge is empowering and can help in making informed decisions about care.

2. Maintain a Support System

Having a robust support system is crucial. This can include family, friends, counsellors, and healthcare providers. Many hospitals and communities also offer support groups specifically for teenagers, which can connect you with peers who understand what you are going through.

3. Focus on Education

Staying in touch with school is important. Many educational institutions will work with students to accommodate their health needs, providing services such as a home tutor or online classes to ensure they can continue their education during treatment.

4. practise Self-Care

Dealing with cancer treatment can be draining. It's important for teens to focus on self-care practices, like eating a balanced diet, getting adequate rest, and engaging in gentle activities they enjoy. Mindfulness and meditation can also be beneficial to manage stress and anxiety.

5. Plan for the Future

Despite a cancer diagnosis, planning for the future provides hope and a sense of control. Teens should be encouraged to set small, achievable goals and look forward to life beyond cancer.

Conclusion

A cancer diagnosis during the teenage years can be incredibly challenging. However, with the right medical care, support system, and coping strategies, young people can manage their treatment and still enjoy much of what life has to offer. Science and medicine are making continuous advancements, and the outlook for cancer patients is better than ever before. What is most important is maintaining hope and a proactive approach to managing health and wellness.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.