Cancer in Young Adutts (Ages 15 to 34)

Cancer is usually thought of as a disease of old age.Fifty percent of all cancer cases occur after age 65.Cancer in children un der age 15, while accounting for only one percent ofall cancerdeaths, hasbeen well publicized.What is generally not well known is that cancer is the leading disease killer in young adults between the ages of 15 and 34.In 1978, 7,383 young adults (3,937 males and 3,446 females) died of cancer.Cancer deathsamong young men are exceeded by accidents, suicide, and homicide, while only accidents kill more young women thancancer.