Common types of cancer in young people

These are the different types of cancer that are more likely to affect young people.  Please click the related link to find out more about each, and if the cancer you want to find out about isn’t listed here, please contact TIC through their website for more information.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
We have a few different types of white cell which help us fight infection and disease. ALL is a cancer of one of these white cells, the lymphoid cells. The most common symptoms are feeling tired, bruising and being prone to infection. Some people may also experience pain in their bones. The cause is unknown. Blood tests, bone marrow samples and lumbar punctures are the tests that are used to diagnose ALL. Treatment includes chemotherapy, steroids and radiotherapy.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/leukaemia-ALL

Acute Myloid Leukaemia (AML)
White cells help us fight infection and disease, and AML is a cancer of one of these white cells, the myeloid cells. The most common symptoms are feeling tired, bruising, being prone to infection and for some pain in their bones. The cause is unknown. Blood tests, bone marrow sample and a lumbar puncture are the tests which will be done to diagnose AML. The treatment includes chemotherapy, steroids and radiotherapy
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/leukaemia-AML

Brain Tumours
There are a few different types and the ones that are more common in young people are astrocytomas and ependymomas (these both start in the supportive tissue of the brain). The most common symptoms are headaches, feeling sick, drowsiness and fits. The symptoms experienced depend on where the tumour is in the brain. The cause is unknown. The tests that are done to diagnose it are CT & MRI scans and biopsies. Brain tumours are treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and steroids and depending on the type, and where it is, a combination of these treatments may be given.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/braintumours

Cancer of the bone
There a number of different types of bone cancer but the ones that young people are most likely to develop are osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma. We don’t know what causes them but do know that the bones that tend to be affected are the leg and arm bones and the pelvis. The most common symptoms are pain and/or swelling around the bone. The tests that are done to diagnose it are x-rays, scans and biopsies and the treatments that are given are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery; often a combination of these treatments is given.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/bonecancer

Soft tissue sarcomas
Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers of our supportive tissue which includes muscle, cartilage, fat cells and blood vessels. The areas of the body that they usually affect are the legs and arms, the chest, pelvis and the head and neck area. There are lots of different types but the ones that most commonly affect young people are rhabdomyosarcomas, synovial sarcomas and fibrosarcomas. The first symptom is usually a painless lump or swelling. The cause is unknown. The tests which diagnose it are biopsies, x-rays, scans and blood tests. The treatment is chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery and depending on the type and what is involved a combination of treatments are often given.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/softtissuesarcomas

Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of our immune system and is made up of a network of lymph vessels and glands as well as a number of organs. The most common symptoms are painless, swollen glands; the glands most likely to be affected are those in the neck, armpit, groin and chest. The cause is unknown. The tests that are done to diagnose Hodgkin’s disease are biopsy, CT and MRI scans. The treatment is chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/lymphomas-Hodgkin

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of our immune system and is made up of a network of lymph vessels and glands as well as a number of organs. The most common symptoms are painless, swollen lymph glands. The glands that are most likely to be affected are those in the neck, throat, chest and abdomen. The cause is unknown. The tests that are done to diagnose NHL are biopsy, CT and MRI scans. There are a few different types of NHL and the biopsy provides information about the type. Treatment depends on the type you have but usually includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/lymphomas-non-Hodgkin

Testicular Cancer
There are two main types - teratomas and seminomas; teratomas tend to affect younger men. The symptoms include a painless lump or swelling in the testicles. The tests that are used to diagnose it are ultrasound and blood tests. The cause is unknown. The main treatment is surgery but chemotherapy may also be given.
Find out more at http://www.click4tic.org.uk/understandit/typesofcancer/testicularcancer