Cancers that may affect young people

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Hello.

I am a mature student at university, a breast cancer survivor, and have a son who, while at university had a testicular cancer scare.

I would like to support my fellow students by encouraging them to be alert to key cancers which may be common in young people, and to check regularly for changes and follow-up concerns with their GP.

I found my breast cancer lump while checking my breasts during a shower, as advised by a midwife when I was pregnant. By finding the lump early and having it checked by my GP quickly, I was lucky enough to have a swift diagnosis and treatment and survived what was an aggressive cancer.

To my awareness, the cancers which may be common in young people (other than leukemia) are testicular, breast and cervical. Is this correct? Also, in the back of my mind I have taking the pill as old information that was linked to a higher risk of getting cancer. Is that just false news or actually true, and if true, which cancers are impacted, please? Finally, does use of a condom help to prevent cervical cancer, or is that an old myth? I would like to share accurate information to help others, not false news.

Thank you.

  • Hello ilexmaria

    Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line. Welcome to the online community.

    It’s great to hear that you are well and that your son’s health scare was no more than that. I hope you are enjoying your university studies.

    You have asked some very interesting questions and I hope the following is going to be of help.

    Although cancer is rare in the 20 year-old age group, you are right that there are certain cancers that have a higher prevalence in younger adults: certain blood cancers, testicular cancer and cervical cancer. In addition, the incidence of skin cancers (including melanomas) is rising considerably in young people according to the most recent report from Public Health England (2021) titled Children, teenagers and young adults UK cancer statistics.

    Other cancers such as breast cancer can occur in younger adults but not commonly. However, the message is very much about being body aware – starting breast self-examination as a young woman, for example, means being familiar with what is normal and makes noting a change more likely.

    Young women are invited for their first smear around age 24 – 25, and the rates of uptake of this screening test have declined, so positive messages about cancer screening as well as cancer prevention are all useful. 

    Here is some information about common cancer myths as well as Cancer Research UK’s information published just two days ago about cancer and the contraceptive pill.

    Many organisations have tips on self-checks and staying safe that you may think helpful to share with the students: stay safe in the sun; checking your testicles; know your breasts (this leaflet is produced in a wide range of languages); what is HPV (this information includes condom use) and cervical screening.

    I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support. 

    The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

    Best wishes, Helen 

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

     

    Ref HM/Lrob