Teenagers and young adults
If you are a young person who is living with cancer, we have information and support especially for you.
Cancer information for young people
If you are a young person who is living with cancer, we have information and support especially for you.
Our cancer guide for young people answers questions you may have. It includes tips and advice from other young people who are living with cancer.
Information about tests and scans
We have information about the following tests:
- Blood test
- Biopsy
- Bone marrow tests
- Hearing test (audiometry)
- Lumbar puncture
- Tests to check your heart
- Tests to check your kidneys
- Tests to check your lungs
And the following scans:
Information about treatments
Information about cancer types
Cancer in teenagers and young adults is quite rare. Most cancers are diagnosed in people over the age of 65.
Certain cancers are more likely to affect teenagers and young adults. We have information about some of these.
Bone cancer
Brain tumours
Leukaemia
Lymphoma
Melanoma
Ovarian cancer
Soft tissue sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers that develop from cells in the soft, supporting tissues of the body. Soft tissue includes muscle, cartilage, fat, fibrous tissue, nerves and blood vessels. The types of sarcoma that are most likely to affect young people are:
- rhabdomyosarcoma
- synovial sarcoma
- soft tissue
- Ewing sarcoma
- fibrosarcoma.
Testicular cancer
Thyroid cancer
Getting support
Macmillan is here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can do the following:
- call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
- visit our Diagnosed at a young age forum to talk with people going through the same things, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions. You can access it any time of day or night. Our Online Community is for anyone aged 16 and over who is affected by cancer.
There are also organisations that provide information and support for teenagers and young adults with cancer.
Offers information and support for people aged 13 to 24. They build cancer units for teenagers and young adults in hospitals, and organise support and information services for patients, their families, schools and health professionals.
Provides clinical, practical and emotional support to help children, teenagers and young people cope with cancer and get the most out of life.
Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer (TYAC)
Provides cancer information for people aged 13 to 24. They fund and support research into teenage and young adult cancers.
How we can help
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.