According to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, adolescents and young adults are between the ages of 15 to 39. Nearly 90,000 adolescents and young adults are diagnosed with cancer every year, with lymphoma being one of the most common diagnoses. This might be shocking due to misinformation on this demographic. Adolescents and young adults are considered to be generally healthy, while cancer is often portrayed as a disease only older people have to worry about.
The American Cancer Society explains that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the most common cancer diagnosed in adolescents ages 15 to 19 years old. Although Hodgkin’s lymphoma has an overall survival rate of 87% according to the American Cancer Society, education is important for research facilities such as the Lymphoma Research Foundation to expand their research and resources, as well as develop proper treatments and increase the survival rate.
With more education as a society on adolescents and young adults with lymphoma, a conscious effort is made to influence generations to come. If we can educate the younger generations, the future of research facilities, families, and communities impacted with lymphoma are able to have increased positive outcomes. There is an ongoing need for education on adolescent and young adult lymphoma so that clinical trials can be held specifically for this age group and biological factors within this demographic are taken into account. At times, it can be hard to treat lymphoma due to the unique biological changes that happens to people in the age groups of 15-39. Awareness on the different immune systems of adolescents and young adults makes the diagnosis process complex. “The risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also increased in patients with immunodeficiency, such as in autoimmune disease, solid organ or stem cell transplantation, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or use of immunosuppressive medications” (Crombie, J. L., & LaCasce, A. S. 2019, January). This makes the experience very different, and these factors must be considered when adolescents and young adults are gaining knowledge on lymphoma.
Education is also important for people within the age group of 15-39 because this is a transitional stage of life. This population not only is undergoing physical change, but also emotional and psychological change. This can heavily impact the morale of adolescents and young adults when it comes to lymphoma, as well as other factors such as the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis and people’s different socioeconomic statuses. These factors are important to know because they all contribute to the wellbeing of people in this demographic.
References
Crombie, J. L., & LaCasce, A. S. (2019, January). Current considerations in Aya Hodgkin Lymphoma. British
journal of haematology. Retrieved February 24, 2022, from
LRF. Lymphoma Research Foundation. (2022, February 16). Retrieved February 24, 2022, from
American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Hodgkin lymphoma statistics: How common is hodgkin disease? American
Cancer Society. Retrieved February 24, 2022, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-
By Mandipa Masike
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