A groundbreaking study has been conducted to examine which types of cancer are most likely to recur in young individuals.
Unfortunately, there is a growing trend of young people being diagnosed with cancer, especially those under 50. According to Cancer Research UK, between the early 1990s and 2018, there was a 22 percent increase in cancer incidence rates among 25 to 49-year-olds in the UK.
This issue is not limited to the UK; it is a global phenomenon. One of the cancers showing a troubling rise is colorectal cancer, which has impacted individuals aged 25 to 49 in 24 different countries, including the US, France, Australia, and Canada, as reported by BBC News last year.
Given the rising rates of cancer among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Centre conducted an analysis of data from 48,000 AYAs in California. The study focused on the likelihood of cancer recurrence and its spread to other parts of the body.
The study included AYAs aged 15 to 39, diagnosed with one of seven common cancers between 2006 and 2018, with follow-up data until the end of 2020.
The researchers discovered that one in ten patients with nonmetastatic disease eventually experienced metastatic recurrence. Metastatic recurrence refers to the situation where cancer returns after a period of remission and spreads from the original site to other parts of the body, resulting in worse survival outcomes.
Additionally, among the 48,000 patients, 9.2 percent who had metastatic disease at diagnosis, and 9.5 percent experienced metastatic recurrence later on.
For those initially diagnosed with nonmetastatic disease, the highest rates of metastasis recurrence were observed in patients with colorectal cancer, sarcoma, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.
“For AYAs initially diagnosed with nonmetastatic disease, the five-year cumulative incidence of metastatic recurrence was highest for those with: Sarcoma (24.5%), Colorectal cancer (21.8%), Cervical cancer (16.3%), Breast cancer (14.7%),” stated the UC Davis Health press release.
The release further noted, “Cervical cancer had particularly high recurrence rates across all stages, with stage 3 patients experiencing a cumulative incidence of 41.7 percent.”
When it comes to survival rates, the study found that survival after metastatic recurrence was generally worse than for those initially diagnosed with metastatic disease, except in cases of testicular and thyroid cancers.
Theresa Keegan, the study’s senior author, commented on the significant findings, stating, “These findings highlight the significant burden of metastatic recurrence among adolescents and young adults and the need for tailored survivorship care.”
“Understanding these patterns helps us identify inequities and evaluate how well our efforts are working to prevent, detect and treat both early and metastatic disease.”
If you have been affected by these issues and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or through their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.