National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week - April 3-9

National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week (April 3-9), first launched in 2003, is designed to share little known information about young adults with cancer. This year, a series of video public service announcements reveals that:

• Approximately 70,000 young adults in their teens through their late 30s are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.
• Cancer is the leading killer of people 20 to 39 years of age, behind homicide and suicide.
• Over the last 20 years, overall survival rates in young adults with cancer have reached a plateau.
• Young adults have the lowest participation rate in clinical trials of any age group.
• Young adults face unique psychosocial concerns  such as fertility preservation, body image, sexuality, education, insurance  issues, employment reintegration, and long term effects of treatment.
• Young adults get cancers that are different than pediatric patients and older adult patients.

For all my young friends out there, please CHECK YOURSELF:  your skin, your testicles, and your breasts.  Get an annual pap smear.   Ask your doctor if the HPV vaccine would benefit you. Get an annual check-up.  Don't smoke.   Get to know your body.   Don't ignore unusual symptoms.   And for those of you women who are turning 40 this year or are in your 40s, get a mammogram and let me know about it.   I have loved hearing from those of you that did not put it off because of what happened to me. 

This concludes today's public service announcement!  ;)