Cancer Information for Teens: Health Tips About Cancer Awareness, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment (Teen Health Series)

'Provides basic consumer health information for teens about cancer risk factors, prevention, and treatment, along with strategies for coping with cancer in families. Includes index, resource information, and recommendations for further reading'--Provided by publisher. Cover 1 Copyright 5 Table of Contents 6 Preface 10 About This Book 10 How To Use This Book 10 Bibliographic Note 12 Acknowledgements 12 About the Teen Health Series 12 Locating Information within the Teen Health Series 13 Our Advisory Board 13 Medical Consultant 14 Part One - Basic Information About Cancer And Cancer Risk Factors 16 1. Understanding Cancer 18 Cancer As A Multistep Process 23 The Human Face Of Cancer 28 Cancer And Society 32 2. Questions And Answers About Childhood Cancers 34 Selected References 41 3. Cancers Teens Get 42 Osteosarcoma 42 Ewing Sarcoma 44 Leukemia 44 Brain Tumors 47 Lymphoma 47 Other Cancers 48 4. Genes And Cancer 50 The Story Of DNA 50 Cellular Functioning 51 Disease Origins 51 Gene Testing 53 Cancer-Related Tests 54 Benefits And Risks Of Gene Testing 54 5. Family History And Cancer Risk 56 6. Tanning And Cancer Risk 60 UV Radiation And Cancer Risk 60 7. Tobacco And Cancer Risks 68 Cigarette Smoking And Cancer 68 Smokeless Tobacco 71 8. Alcohol Use And Breast Cancer 78 9. Are Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Cancer Risk? 82 Additional Research Regarding Aspartame and Cancer 84 10. Questions And Answers About Obesity And Cancer 88 11. Oral Contraceptives And Cancer Risk 94 12. Human Papillomavirus And Cancer Risk 100 13. Cancer And The Environment: What You Need To Know 108 Tobacco 109 Diet, Weight, And Physical Inactivity 110 Alcoholic Drinks 110 Ultraviolet Radiation 110 Viruses And Bacteria 111 Ionizing Radiation 112 Pesticides 114 Medical Drugs 114 Solvents 115 Fibers, Fine Particles, And Dust 116 Dioxins 117 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) 117 Metals 118 Diesel Exhaust Particles 120 Toxins From Fungi 120 Vinyl Chloride 120 Benzidine 121 14. Questions And Answers About Asbestos And Cancer 122 15. Cancer Risk And The Use Of Cellular Telephones 128 16. Reducing The Risk Of Second Cancers 136 Risks Of Second Cancers 136 Secondary Cancers 137 Part Two - Cancers Of Most Concern to Teens And Young Adults 140 17. Bone Cancer 142 Bone Cancer: Questions and Answers 142 Ewing Family Of Tumors 147 Osteosarcoma And Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma Of Bone 149 18. Brain Tumors 150 The Brain 150 Tumor Grades 151 Types of Primary Brain Tumors 152 Risk Factors 153 Symptoms 154 Diagnosis 154 Treatment 155 Supportive Care 156 Rehabilitation 156 Follow-Up Care 157 19. Breast Cancer 158 The Breasts And Breast Cancer Risk Factors 158 Screening 161 Diagnosis 163 Staging 164 Treatment 166 20. Cervical Cancer 168 The Cervix And Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer 168 Detection And Diagnosis 170 Staging 171 Treatment 172 Follow-Up Care 173 21. Germ Cell Tumors 174 Stage Explanation 176 Treatment Overview 177 22. Leukemia 180 23. Lymphoma 190 Hodgkin Lymphoma 190 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 199 24. Skin Cancer 204 The Skin 204 Skin Cancer Risk Factors 205 Symptoms 208 Diagnosis 210 Staging 211 Treatment Methods 212 Follow-Up Care 215 25. Soft Tissue Sarcomas 216 Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma 222 26. Spinal Cord Tumors 224 The Central Nervous System 224 Symptoms 225 No Stages For Childhood Spinal Cord Tumors 226 Treatment Overview 228 27. Testicular Cancer 230 28. Thyroid Cancer 237 The Thyroid 237 Types Of Thyroid Cancer 238 Risk Factors 238 Symptoms 241 Treatment 242 Part Three - Diagnosing And Treating Cancer 246 29. Diagnosing Cancer 248 30. What Is Cancer Staging? 252 31. Finding A Doctor Or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer 258 Physician Training And Credentials 258 Finding a Doctor 260 Getting A Second Opinion 262 Finding A Treatment Facility 264 32. Who’s Who In The Hospital 266 Medical Doctors 266 Nurses 268 Interdisciplinary Team Members 268 33. What It’s Like To Stay In The Hospital 270 People In The Hospital 271 Medical Tests 273 The Long Haul 273 34. Treatments Commonly Used For Cancer 276 About Cancer Treatment 276 The Different Types Of Cancer Treatment 277 Surgery 277 Chemotherapy 279 Radiation Therapy 282 Immunotherapy 284 BMT And Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplants 285 Complementary And Alternative Medicine 286 Common Medical Procedures 286 35. What It’s Like To Have Surgery 290 What To Expect 290 Making Surgery Less Stressful 293 36. Supportive Care During Cancer Treatment 296 Blood Transfusions 296 Antibiotic Therapy 298 Nutrition 298 37. Complementary And Alternative Medicine Cancer Treatments 300 Many Choices 300 Complementary And Alternative Medicine (CAM) 301 Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) 301 Choose Practitioners With Care 304 Getting Information From Trusted Sources 305 38. Participating In Cancer Research 308 Part Four - Coping With Cancer And The Effects Of Treatment 316 39. Dealing With Cancer 318 Learning About Cancer 318 How Can I Take Care Of Myself Physically? 320 How Can I Take Care Of Myself Emotionally? 320 How Can I Help Someone Who Has Cancer? 321 40. When Cancer Keeps You Home 322 What Is Neutropenia? 322 Making The Best Of It 324 41. Coping With The Side Effects Of Cancer Treatment? 326 Plumbing Problems: Nausea And Vomiting 326 Plumbing Problems: Diarrhea And Constipation 329 Plumbing Problems: Mouth Sores 332 42. Fever And Chills 334 Temperature Control: Fever 334 Temperature Control: Shaking Chills 337 43. Who’s In The Mirror? Hair Loss, Skin Problems, And The Effects Of Steroid Medications 340 Mirror Mirror On The Wall: Hair Loss 340 Mirror Mirror On The Wall: Skin Problems 343 Mirror Mirror On The Wall: Steroids 345 44. Cancer Rehabilitation 348 How Is Cancer Rehabilitation Effective? 348 The Cancer Rehabilitation Team 349 Additional Resources 352 45. Returning To School After Cancer Treatment 354 People Change 354 Life Goes On 355 Asking For Help Is OK 356 Tell Your Teachers What To Expect 356 Talk Openly About Your Disease 358 Know Yourself 358 46. Healthy Living For Cancer Survivors 360 Impact Of Childhood Cancer On Nutrition And Physical Activity 360 Developing A Healthy Nutrition Plan 362 Developing A Healthy Physical Exercise Plan 364 Physical Activity For Survivors With Special Needs 366 47. Cancer Survivorship: Emotional Issues 368 The Cancer Experience 368 After The Cancer Experience 368 Relationships 369 Reacting To The Stresses Of Survivorship 370 Risk Factors For Emotional Issues 370 When You Should Seek Help 371 Treatment Options 371 Resources 372 48. Late Effects Of Treatment For Childhood Cancer 374 Part Five - When Someone You Know Has Cancer 386 49. Cancer In the Family: What It’s Like For You 388 It May Be Hard To Talk About Cancer 388 Answering Questions 393 Feeling Embarrassed 394 Changing 394 50. When Your Parent Has Cancer 396 You’ve Just Learned That Your Parent Has Cancer 396 Your Feelings 397 Cancer Treatment 399 What Your Parent May Be Feeling 403 Changes In Your Family 404 You And Your Friends 405 The Road Ahead 406 51. When A Sibling Is Seriously Ill 408 “How Could I Be Feeling This?” 408 What You Can Do 410 Helping Your Family—and Yourself 412 Other Ways To Cope 413 52. You Can Help When Your Friend Has Cancer 414 Be Prepared 415 Emotional Support 416 Practical Support 417 Part Six - If You Need More Information 420 53. Additional Reading About Cancer 422 Books 422 Publications Available From The NCI 424 54. Sources Of Cancer Information, Advocacy, And Support 426 55. Resources For Finding Cancer Clinical Trials 436 Who sponsors clinical trials? 436 Other Resources For Finding Clinical Trials 438 Index 442 Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 6 How To Use This Book......Page 10 About the Teen Health Series......Page 12 Our Advisory Board......Page 13 Medical Consultant......Page 14 Part One - Basic Information About Cancer And Cancer Risk Factors......Page 16 1. Understanding Cancer......Page 18 Cancer As A Multistep Process......Page 23 The Human Face Of Cancer......Page 28 Cancer And Society......Page 32 2. Questions And Answers About Childhood Cancers......Page 34 Selected References......Page 41 Osteosarcoma......Page 42 Leukemia......Page 44 Lymphoma......Page 47 Other Cancers......Page 48 The Story Of DNA......Page 50 Disease Origins......Page 51 Gene Testing......Page 53 Benefits And Risks Of Gene Testing......Page 54 5. Family History And Cancer Risk......Page 56 UV Radiation And Cancer Risk......Page 60 Cigarette Smoking And Cancer......Page 68 Smokeless Tobacco......Page 71 8. Alcohol Use And Breast Cancer......Page 78 9. Are Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Cancer Risk?......Page 82 Additional Research Regarding Aspartame and Cancer......Page 84 10. Questions And Answers About Obesity And Cancer......Page 88 11. Oral Contraceptives And Cancer Risk......Page 94 12. Human Papillomavirus And Cancer Risk......Page 100 13. Cancer And The Environment: What You Need To Know......Page 108 Tobacco......Page 109 Ultraviolet Radiation......Page 110 Viruses And Bacteria......Page 111 Ionizing Radiation......Page 112 Medical Drugs......Page 114 Solvents......Page 115 Fibers, Fine Particles, And Dust......Page 116 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)......Page 117 Metals......Page 118 Vinyl Chloride......Page 120 Benzidine......Page 121 14. Questions And Answers About Asbestos And Cancer......Page 122 15. Cancer Risk And The Use Of Cellular Telephones......Page 128 Risks Of Second Cancers......Page 136 Secondary Cancers......Page 137 Part Two - Cancers Of Most Concern to Teens And Young Adults......Page 140 Bone Cancer: Questions and Answers......Page 142 Ewing Family Of Tumors......Page 147 Osteosarcoma And Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma Of Bone......Page 149 The Brain......Page 150 Tumor Grades......Page 151 Types of Primary Brain Tumors......Page 152 Risk Factors......Page 153 Diagnosis......Page 154 Treatment......Page 155 Rehabilitation......Page 156 Follow-Up Care......Page 157 The Breasts And Breast Cancer Risk Factors......Page 158 Screening......Page 161 Diagnosis......Page 163 Staging......Page 164 Treatment......Page 166 The Cervix And Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer......Page 168 Detection And Diagnosis......Page 170 Staging......Page 171 Treatment......Page 172 Follow-Up Care......Page 173 21. Germ Cell Tumors......Page 174 Stage Explanation......Page 176 Treatment Overview......Page 177 22. Leukemia......Page 180 Hodgkin Lymphoma......Page 190 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma......Page 199 The Skin......Page 204 Skin Cancer Risk Factors......Page 205 Symptoms......Page 208 Diagnosis......Page 210 Staging......Page 211 Treatment Methods......Page 212 Follow-Up Care......Page 215 25. Soft Tissue Sarcomas......Page 216 Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma......Page 222 The Central Nervous System......Page 224 Symptoms......Page 225 No Stages For Childhood Spinal Cord Tumors......Page 226 Treatment Overview......Page 228 27. Testicular Cancer......Page 230 The Thyroid......Page 237 Risk Factors......Page 238 Symptoms......Page 241 Treatment......Page 242 Part Three - Diagnosing And Treating Cancer......Page 246 29. Diagnosing Cancer......Page 248 30. What Is Cancer Staging?......Page 252 Physician Training And Credentials......Page 258 Finding a Doctor......Page 260 Getting A Second Opinion......Page 262 Finding A Treatment Facility......Page 264 Medical Doctors......Page 266 Interdisciplinary Team Members......Page 268 33. What It’s Like To Stay In The Hospital......Page 270 People In The Hospital......Page 271 The Long Haul......Page 273 About Cancer Treatment......Page 276 Surgery......Page 277 Chemotherapy......Page 279 Radiation Therapy......Page 282 Immunotherapy......Page 284 BMT And Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplants......Page 285 Common Medical Procedures......Page 286 What To Expect......Page 290 Making Surgery Less Stressful......Page 293 Blood Transfusions......Page 296 Nutrition......Page 298 Many Choices......Page 300 Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)......Page 301 Choose Practitioners With Care......Page 304 Getting Information From Trusted Sources......Page 305 38. Participating In Cancer Research......Page 308 Part Four - Coping With Cancer And The Effects Of Treatment......Page 316 Learning About Cancer......Page 318 How Can I Take Care Of Myself Emotionally?......Page 320 How Can I Help Someone Who Has Cancer?......Page 321 What Is Neutropenia?......Page 322 Making The Best Of It......Page 324 Plumbing Problems: Nausea And Vomiting......Page 326 Plumbing Problems: Diarrhea And Constipation......Page 329 Plumbing Problems: Mouth Sores......Page 332 Temperature Control: Fever......Page 334 Temperature Control: Shaking Chills......Page 337 Mirror Mirror On The Wall: Hair Loss......Page 340 Mirror Mirror On The Wall: Skin Problems......Page 343 Mirror Mirror On The Wall: Steroids......Page 345 How Is Cancer Rehabilitation Effective?......Page 348 The Cancer Rehabilitation Team......Page 349 Additional Resources......Page 352 People Change......Page 354 Life Goes On......Page 355 Tell Your Teachers What To Expect......Page 356 Know Yourself......Page 358 Impact Of Childhood Cancer On Nutrition And Physical Activity......Page 360 Developing A Healthy Nutrition Plan......Page 362 Developing A Healthy Physical Exercise Plan......Page 364 Physical Activity For Survivors With Special Needs......Page 366 After The Cancer Experience......Page 368 Relationships......Page 369 Risk Factors For Emotional Issues......Page 370 Treatment Options......Page 371 Resources......Page 372 48. Late Effects Of Treatment For Childhood Cancer......Page 374 Part Five - When Someone You Know Has Cancer......Page 386 It May Be Hard To Talk About Cancer......Page 388 Answering Questions......Page 393 Changing......Page 394 You’ve Just Learned That Your Parent Has Cancer......Page 396 Your Feelings......Page 397 Cancer Treatment......Page 399 What Your Parent May Be Feeling......Page 403 Changes In Your Family......Page 404 You And Your Friends......Page 405 The Road Ahead......Page 406 “How Could I Be Feeling This?”......Page 408 What You Can Do......Page 410 Helping Your Family—and Yourself......Page 412 Other Ways To Cope......Page 413 52. You Can Help When Your Friend Has Cancer......Page 414 Be Prepared......Page 415 Emotional Support......Page 416 Practical Support......Page 417 Part Six - If You Need More Information......Page 420 Books......Page 422 Publications Available From The NCI......Page 424 54. Sources Of Cancer Information, Advocacy, And Support......Page 426 Who sponsors clinical trials?......Page 436 Other Resources For Finding Clinical Trials......Page 438 Index......Page 442

Young adults face health challenges that are vastly different from those of previous generations. While their parents benefited from new vaccines, antibiotics, and other medications, today's teens are learning that lifestyle choices also play a central role in health maintenance. The decisions they make and the habits they adopt form the foundation for lifelong wellness. Omnigraphics' Teen Health Series is a specially focused set of volumes within the highly acclaimed Health Reference Series. Each volume deals comprehensively with a topic selected according to the needs and interests of people in middle school and high school.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer among adolescents and young adults accounts for only two to three percent of all invasive cancer. Yet, this age group has notable concerns. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease during the teen years, and the pattern of cancer seen in teens and young adults differs from that in people who are older or younger. Furthermore, the decisions adolescents make about tobacco use, sun exposure, sexual practices, and other lifestyle choices may have significant implications for their risk of developing cancer later in life.

Cancer Information for Teens, Second Edition provides updated information about research regarding the possible causes of cancer and ways to prevent, detect, and treat it. It explains the biological processes associated with the development of cancer, and it discusses factors known to increase cancer risk. A section for teens coping with cancer offers practical tips for dealing with issues such as the side effects of treatment, physical appearance, school life, and relationships.Another section offers suggestions for teens who may have a family member or friend dealing with cancer. The book concludes with a resource section offering suggestions for additional reading, a directory of sources for cancer information, and resources for finding cancer clinical trials.