Hospiten bets on the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer in adolescents and young adults, on World Cancer Day.
Globally, it is estimated that there are around 3 billion adolescents and young adults, representing approximately 40% of the global population. In 2019, nearly 1,400,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in this age group, accounting for around 6% of total oncological diagnoses
Professor Doctor Manuel Morales, head of the Medical Oncology Service at Hospiten Rambla University Hospital, states that "several epidemiological studies have shown that the various cancers affecting this age group, between 15 and 29, have a biological and clinical behavior that is different from those that occur in other age ranges".
The oncologist explains that "while in childhood cancers it is assumed that congenital and prenatal factors play an important role and that, in adult age cancers, environmental factors play them, it is supposed that in adolescent age and young adulthood cancers, both factors converge".
Prof. Dr. Morales assures that, "although genetic alterations exist that predispose to the development of cancer at early ages, only a small percentage of cases have a clearly hereditary origin. Among the factors that could explain the increase in incidence in recent decades are obesity, excessive exposure to ionizing radiation, factors related to chronic inflammation, or alterations in the intestinal microbiota".
The types of cancer that affect adolescents and young adults differ from those observed in children or older people
Globally, the five most frequent cancers in this group are breast and cervical cancers, leukemias, lymphomas, and colon and rectal cancers. Among the female population, breast, cervical, ovarian, and thyroid cancers stand out. For their part, in males they are testicular cancers, leukemias, lymphomas, colon and rectal cancers, and brain tumors.
Prevention and early diagnosis as allies
In the same way, as occurs in the adult stage, prevention and early diagnosis are valid for adolescent and young adult cancer
Prof. Dr. Morales highlights habits such as “vaccination at early ages against the human papillomavirus, limiting sun exposure, using sunscreen, avoiding tobacco and alcohol consumption, avoiding obesity, and consuming a healthy diet”.
On the other hand, regarding treatment, it will generally depend on the type and stage of the tumor, but one must always attend to the biological and psychological differences of this age. "It is very important when planning treatment in this group of patients to take into account its repercussions in terms of sequelae and also in terms of fertility and sexuality," points out the oncologist
Hospiten highlights the need to prevent and perform the pertinent tests for early cancer diagnosis, as it will allow for its treatment to avoid future sequelae and complications for their future life.
About Hospiten
Hospiten is an international healthcare network with more than 55 years of experience committed to providing a service of the highest quality, which has 20 private medical-hospital centers in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Panama, in addition to 175 outpatient medical centers, under the Clinic Assist brand. Founded by Dr. Pedro Luis Cobiella, it annually serves more than three million patients from all over the world and has a staff of more than 5,000 people, a care that will be reinforced in the Community of Madrid thanks to the construction of a university general hospital in Boadilla del Monte, which expects its works to be completed in 2026MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid - Hospiten, is a subsidiary of the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston (Texas, USA). With more than twenty years of history in our country, MD Anderson Madrid - Hospiten currently has a Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, more than 150 medical specialists trained in oncology, a total of 87 hospitalization beds, and state-of-the-art technological equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer