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Melanoma is the commonest cancer type that affects young people in Victoria, comprising approximately 20% of diagnoses. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It may present as a colored skin lesion, which has changed in colour or size recently, or by bleeding. If you are in any doubt, see your family doctor. It is generally treated by surgical removal, and cure rates exceed 90%. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy do not play a role in treatment if melanoma is caught early. Prevention and early detection are therefore very important. If melanoma has spread, treatment is best undertaken at centres with experience and access to clinical trials. For further information about melanoma see the following website http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/patient/.
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Thyroid cancer is a disease that mainly afflicts young women. The thyroid gland is a hormone producing gland in the neck. Cancer may present as a lump, with pain, or with hoarseness of voice. If you have any concerns regarding these symptoms, you should see your family doctor. Treatment is generally with surgery, and the outcomes are excellent, with more than 90% of patients being cured. Surgery is best performed by surgeons with expertise in this type of cancer. Very occasionally thyroid cancer may require additional treatments, which are best performed at experienced centres with specialized facilities, and treatment may include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For more information on thyroid cancer see the following website http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/thyroid/patient/.
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Lymphoma, or cancer originating from the lymph glands, may be of two kinds. These are called Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma is more common than non-Hodgkin lymphoma in young people. Lymphoma may present as a painless lump, or with various symptoms including drenching sweats and unintentional weight loss. If you have concerns, you should see your family doctor. Treatment may require chemotherapy, radiotherapy and occasionally surgery. Although the cure rates for lymphoma (and Hodgkin's lymphoma in particular) are very good, the complexity and intensity of treatment, and the need for doctors with expertise in several areas of care, mean that this cancer is best treated at major centres with experience in these diseases. For more information on lymphoma, see www.cancer.gov (hodgkins), www.cancer.gov (non hodgkins)
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Leukaemia may of several kinds, but all are cancers of the bone marrow, causing changes in blood cells. Broadly, they may be called acute (meaning rapidly progressing), or chronic (meaning usually slowly progressing). The two most common forms of leukaemia in young people are acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The other main type of leukaemia is called chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). These cancers may present with bruising or bleeding, infections, or with tiredness and weight loss. If you have concerns, you should see your family doctor. Treatment is often very complicated, and relies heavily on chemotherapy. The chances of cure are highest at highly experienced centres with expertise in managing this uncommon disease. For more information see www.cancer.gov (aml), www.cancer.gov (all), www.cancer.gov (cml)
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Sarcomas are cancers of bone, cartilage, muscle, fat and other 'connective tissues'. They can affect younger people. The two most common types are osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and Ewing's sarcoma (which may arise in bone or other places in the body; it is also called primitive neuroectodermal tumour, or PNET). These tumours present usually with persistent pain and swelling, often in the legs or arms. If you have concerns, you should see your family doctor. Treatment is very complex, and involves often specialized surgery, intensive chemotherapy, and sometimes radiotherapy as well. Treatment for sarcomas is best carried out at highly specialized centres, where doctors work in teams to get the best possible outcomes. For more information, please see http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/ewings/patient/; http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/osteosarcoma/patient/
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Testicular cancer This cancer type generally affects young men, although rarely similar types of cancer can affect the sex glands in young women as well. It usually presents as a lump, which may or may not be painful. If you have concerns, you should see your family doctor. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Outcomes are generally excellent. For more information, see http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/testicular/patient/.
There are other cancer types which may affect young people. For information about these, please either go to the website above http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment, or consult your doctor. If you need further help, please contact either the Cancer Council of Victoria (13 11 20; http://www.cancervic.org.au) If you have a cancer yourself, you may also contact the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (9656 1111) for guidance, information or for clinical referral. You will need your doctor to provide a referral.- Further details are available from the Cancer Council of Victoria http://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer1/sub_facts.htm or the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/index.cfm.
