Download Cancer and adolescents

CANCER AND ADOLESCENTS
Contemporary Health 2
Caroline Montagna
Matt Lorup
Overview
• What is cancer?
• Incidence
• Predisposition
• Treatment
• Adolescent Cancer and the Dimensions of Wellness
• Future Impacts
• References
What is Cancer?
• Disease caused by an uncontrollable division of abnormal
cells in a part of the body
• Caused by both internal factors and external factors.
These causal factors may act together or in sequence to
initiate or promote the development of cancer. Ten or
more years often pass between exposure to external
factors and detectable cancer.
Incidence of Cancer
• According to the American Childhood Cancer
Organization, more than 1.6 million people were expected
to develop cancer in 2012 in the United States.
• According to the National Cancer Institute, about 70,000
adolescents and young adults are diagnosed with cancer
each year in the United States.
Common Adolescent Cancers
• Lymphoma
• Cancer of immune system
• lymph system, lymphocytes
• Symptoms:
• unexpected weight loss
• Fullness in abdomen
• Night sweats
• Hodgkin Lymphoma (most
common)
Leukemia
• Cancer of blood cells
• Starts in bone marrow
• Makes abnormal white blood cells
grow faster than normal cells,
• Symptoms - bone pain, lump on
neck, swelling on left side of belly
Common Adolescent Cancers (cont’d.)
• Germ Cell Tumor
• Melanoma
• Masses of tissue formed by
• Skin cancer
immature cells, which in a
healthy body would develop
mature eggs or sperm
• 90% of GCT’s are gonadal,
meaning they begin in the
reproductive system
• Can develop in CNS
• Symptoms - Excessive hair
growth, early entry to puberty,
frequent urination
• Unrepaired DNA damage to
skin cells
• Develops moles (black or
brown)
• Genetically disposed +
constant UV rays
• Symptoms - change in size,
shape, or color of a mole or other
skin growth, such as a birthmark
Treatments
Lymphoma:
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Induction therapy
• Biological therapy
Leukemia:
• Stem cell transplantation
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
Treatments (cont’d.)
Germ Cell Tumor:
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
Melanoma:
• Depends on stage
• Surgery
• Target therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
Adolescent Cancer and the
7 Dimensions of Wellness
Cancer and the Physical Dimension
• Chemotherapy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Radiation Therapy
• Damage of normal, healthy cells near the cancer
• Anemia
• Deficiency of red blood cells
• Pain
• Tumor compression
• Surgery
Cancer and the Intellectual Dimension
• Some cancers and treatments can result in cognitive
changes that affect thinking, learning, processing or
remembering information. These changes can affect
many aspects of life such as the ability to work or even to
do everyday tasks.
Cancer and the Emotional Dimension
• Distress
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Depression
• Guilt
Cancer and the Social Dimension
• Patients with cancer and their families often experience
an enhanced need for social support. Social support has
been found to be related to influencing health outcomes.
• Social support may reduce:
• Anxiety and stress, emotional distress and depression, fatigue
• Social support may improve:
• Mood, self-image, ability to cope with stress, feelings of control
Cancer and the Spiritual Dimension
• Many survivors find that life takes on new meaning after
cancer, and will renew their commitment to spiritual
practices or organized religion. Research suggests that
spirituality improves quality of life through a strong social
support network, adaptive coping, lessened depression
and better physiological function.
Cancer and the Occupational Dimension
• Reluctance to reveal that you are undergoing
cancer treatment to your employer or
coworkers for fear of being treated
differently or even losing your job
and health insurance.
• Re-entering social and professional life can be accompanied by
many fears:
• worry about being out in the world with an increased risk of
infection
• not having enough energy to get through a workday
• anxiety about not being able to think clearly because of
"chemobrain" or memory loss.
Cancer and the Environmental Dimension
• Exposure to radiation
• Exposure to smoking
• Being around an environment
that does not enhance your risk
of further spreading the cancer.
Future Impacts
Future Impacts
• The number off adolescents with cancer will increase
because of link with obesity.
• Programs will continue to be made to help adolescents
cope with their cancer.
• Cure Search - leader in funding children's cancer research.
• Cure rates have increased from approximately 40% to 80%.
• American Childhood Cancer Organization - The 5 year
survival rate for childhood cancer is close to 80%.
• Currently there are estimated to be 270,000 survivors of
childhood cancer in the U.S.
References
• American Childhood Cancer Association
• http://www.acco.org/information/aboutchildhoodcancer/childhoodcancerstatistics.aspx
• National Cancer Institute
• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/what-is-cancer
• Children’s Cancer Research Fund
• http://www.childrenscancer.org/main/germ_cell_tumors/
• National Library of Medicine
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lymphoma.html
• American Cancer Society
• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-melanoma/detailedguide/melanoma-skin-
cancer-treating-general-info
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• http://www.cancer.net/coping-and-emotions/managing-emotions
• Susan G. Komen Foundation
• http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BenefitsofSocialSupport.html