Key Messages

• Look for a doctor who specializes in your type of cancer. This person may be a doctor who treats children with cancer or a doctor who treats adults with cancer.
  
  
• Ask your doctor about how your diagnosis will affect your treatment plan.
  
  
• Many side effects of cancer treatment can either be prevented or minimized; talk with your doctors and nurses about your concerns.

Young adults face unique challenges when it comes to finding the best cancer treatment because cancer in young adults is rare. For that reason, it is important to find doctors that have experience treating the type of cancer that was diagnosed and can provide care specific to young adults.

Choosing a doctor and finding treatment

To start, cancer is a disease that requires specialized treatment, and it is important to find an oncologist (doctor who specializes in treating cancer). Even so, not all cancers are the same. You need an oncologist who has experience treating your type of cancer. A comprehensive cancer center is an excellent place to find an oncologist, and many cancer centers are starting to offer specialized support for young adults with cancer. Find out more about finding an oncologist and finding a treatment facility.

For several types of cancer, young adults fare better with treatments that are usually given to children and teenagers. For example, several studies of older adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated using a schedule of drugs used to treat children with ALL. These patients lived longer than when they were treated with a schedule of drugs used to treat adult ALL.

On the other hand, young adults with colon cancer and melanoma may have better results with following the same course of treatment as adults.

Generally speaking, contact a pediatric oncologist (a doctor who treats children with cancer) if you are diagnosed with a cancer that typically occurs in children and adolescents, including some types of brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma. Contact a medical oncologist for cancers that are more common in adults, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma. If you are unsure, talk with a doctor or nurse.

Types of treatment

Cancer is treated in different ways, depending on the location, type, and stage of the cancer, as well as your age and overall health. Often, cancer treatment involves a combination of treatments. Some common treatments include the following:

• Surgery: an operation to find and remove the tumor
  
  
• Chemotherapy: the use of drugs to kill cancer cells
  
  
• Radiation therapy: the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells
  
  
• Immunotherapy: a type of cancer treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer; also called biologic therapy or biotherapy
  
  
• Targeted therapy: a treatment that targets specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival
  
  
• Hormone therapy: a treatment that adds, removes, or interferes with hormones (chemicals, such as estrogen or testosterone, produced by glands in the body).
  
  
• Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation: the process of replacing diseased stem cells in the bone marrow (the spongy, inner part of bone where blood cells are made) with healthy ones from a donor.
  
  
• Clinical trials: carefully conducted tests in patients of new treatments or of potentially better ways to use current treatments. Find out more about clinical trials in young adults.

To find specific treatment information, look for information for your type of cancer.

Side effects

Some cancer treatments cause side effects, but most side effects can be managed or prevented with the help of your doctor. The side effects you experience may be different from what someone else experiences and depend on what type of treatment you had, the dose that you received, and the response of your body to treatment.

Fatigue is being extremely tired all the time and is a common side effect of cancer or cancer treatment. Talk with your doctor if fatigue interferes with your life. Contrary to what you may think, exercising can actually reduce the symptoms of fatigue and improve other symptoms as well. Talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program or resuming your regular exercise routine.

Pain is also a common side effect, either after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or from the tumor itself. It is very important to tell your doctor when you are in pain and the type of pain you are feeling (throbbing, burning, or a dull ache, for example). There are many ways to treat pain, including medications, physical therapy, or relaxation techniques, but your doctor can't help unless he or she knows your specific symptoms.

Other side effects may include the following:

• Nausea, which is the feeling that you are about to throw up, and vomiting, which is another term for throwing up, can happen after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help prevent these symptoms.
  
  
• Hair loss may result from some types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Talk to a doctor or nurse for suggestions on how to manage hair loss.
  
  
• Mouth sores may occur after some types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some people find that sucking on ice chips before chemotherapy can help. Good oral hygiene and pain-relieving preparations (such as creams) can also help.
  
  
• Fever can be a sign of infection or neutropenia, which is a low number of white blood cells. A fever should be treated immediately.
  
  
• Diarrhea is frequent, watery bowel movements. If over-the-counter medications aren't helping, talk with your doctor about other medications you can take. If you do experience diarrhea, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking fluids.
  
  
• Constipation is infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Eating more fiber, drinking more fluids, exercising, or taking laxatives can help, but check with your doctor first.

Learn more about managing the side effects of cancer and its treatment.

More Information

Types of Treatment

Cancer in Young Adults: Questions to Ask the Doctor

Resources for Young Adults