Carcinoma in the First Three Decades of Life

The old concept of cancer as a disease highly selective of the latter span of life is undoubtedly a factor that militates to no small degree against proper recognition of this disease. Furthermore the seeming tendency of cancer to manifest itself to an increasing degree during the earlier decades of life is a fact calling for more emphasis than is laid on it in current literature. For these reasons we have made this study of the material at the Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital, where, since 1908, there have been 134 patients between 8 1/2 and 31 years of age in whom the diagnosis of cancer was confirmed by microscopic examination. This paper treats of carcinoma alone in patients of 30 years or younger. Sarcoma and other malignant conditions have not been included. The more one sees of cancer and studies it microscopically, the more is one convinced that