Download Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer

How is AYA cancer prevented?
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Quitting or never starting to smoke
Limiting time spent in the sun and avoiding
tanning salons will decrease risk of developing
skin cancers.
Limiting sex partners and using safe sex
practices lower the risk of infection with human
papilloma virus (HPV) and human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which are linked
to cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, and nonHodgkin lymphoma.
Vaccines are available to help prevent infection
with HPV (human papilloma virus), the group of
viruses linked to cervical and some other
cancers.
The risk of cervical cancer increases for women
in their 20s and 30s. So, it is recommend that
women schedule regular cervical cancer
screenings at age 21 to increase the likelihood
of early detection.
Adolescent and
Young Adult
(AYA) Cancer
An Overview
Learn more about AYA cancer:
National Cancer Institute (2006). Closing the gap:
Research and care imperatives for adolescents
and young adults with cancer. http://
planning.cancer.gov/library
AYAO_PRG_Report_2006_FINAL.pdf
American Cancer Society (2014). Adolescent/Young
Adult Cancer. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/
aya/types
American Society of Clinical Oncology (2014). For
young adults. http://www.cancer.net/navigating
-cancer-care/young-adults
National Cancer Institute (2014). Adolescents and
young adults with cancer. http://
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/aya
Contact:
Prepared by
UA College of Nursing
Office of Professional & Community Engagement
1305 N. Martin Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85721
Tel. (520) 626-6151
1305 N. Martin Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85721
(520) 626-6151
What is AYA cancer?
Adolescent/young adult (AYA) cancers affect those
between the ages of 15 and 39. While not as
common cancer in older adults, this type of cancer
is far more prevalent than childhood cancer. The
most common cancer types in this age range are
largely different from those in children or older
adults. Over the past 30 years, AYA cancer
incidence has increased more than any other age
group.
What are the different types of AYA cancer?
The most common types of AYA cancer include:
 Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
 Melanoma
 Breast Cancer
 Osteosarcoma
 Cervical Cancer
 Ovarian Cancer
 Colorectal Cancer
 Rhabdomyosarcoma
 Ewing Family of Tumors
 Soft Tissue Sarcoma
 Leukemia
 Testicular Cancer
 Lymphoma
 Thyroid Cancer
Read more about these types of AYA cancer at:
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/
cancerinyoungadults/index
How is adolescent/young adult cancer diagnosed?
For diagnosis information particular to different
types of cancer, please consult our specific cancer
overviews.
Physical Exams are visual and physical inspections
of the body for common symptoms of AYA cancer.
These exams will tend to focus on the thyroid,
testicles, ovaries, lymph nodes, mouth, throat, and
skin.
Lab tests measure the composition and function
of different elements of the body. For AYA cancer,
these may include blood tests, urine tests, and
other tests such as organ function tests.
Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of your
body to take a closer look at potential tumors.
These may include x-rays, computed tomography
(CT) scans, bone scans, magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scans, positron emissions
tomography (PET) scans, ultrasounds, and other
tests.
Biopsy is the removal and examination of a small
amount of suspicious tissue under the microscope.
What are the risk factors of AYA cancer?
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What are the symptoms of AYA cancer?
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Common symptoms of AYA cancer are shared with
many different illnesses. Some symptoms of AYA
cancer include:
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Weight loss
Headache
Swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints,
back or legs
Lumps
Excessive bruising or bleeding
Nausea or consistent tiredness
Recurrent fever
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Previous cancer treatments: Treatment for
childhood cancer increases the risk of being
diagnosed with a second primary cancer in
teenagers and young adults.
Infections: Epstein-Barr Virus and Human
Papilloma Virus are associated with increased
AYA rates of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and
cervical cancer.
Genes: Certain genetics syndromes like Li
Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), Down Syndrome,
Lynch syndrome, Germ-line mutations, and the
presence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are
associated with higher rates of AYA cancer.
Puberty and Growth: Adolescent growth
spurts are correlated to higher rates of
osteosarcoma.
UV Radiation: Exposure to ultraviolet radiation
(UVR) is an established factor in development
of melanoma in teenagers and young adults.
Smoking: Smoking doubles risk of developing
cervical pre-cancerous lesions in young
women, after controlling for HPV infection