This is the first comprehensive book devoted exclusively to cancer in adolescents and young adults. It compiles medical, epidemiological, biological, psychological, and emotional issues of young adults’ oncology. The emphasis is on the differences of the "same" cancer in younger and older patients. Model programs specially designed to care for patients in the age group and surveillance of long-term adverse effects are reviewed.

Since the late 1960s, the survival rate in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer has steadily improved, with a corresponding decline in the cancer-specific death rate. Although the improvements in survival are encouraging, they have come at the cost of acute, chronic, and late adverse effects precipitated by the toxicities associated with the individual or combined use of different types of treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy). In some cases, the impairments resulting from cancer and its treatment are severe enough to qualify a child for U.S. Social Security Administration disability benefits. At the request of Social Security Administration, Childhood Cancer and Functional Impacts Across the Care Continuum provides current information and findings and conclusions regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of selected childhood cancers, including different types of malignant solid tumors, and the effect of those cancers on childrenâ (TM)s health and functional capacity, including the relative levels of functional limitation typically associated with the cancers and their treatment. This report also provides a summary of selected treatments currently being studied in clinical trials and identifies any limitations on the availability of these treatments, such as whether treatments are available only in certain geographic areas.

Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer is the summary of a workshop convened by the Institute of Medicine's National Cancer Policy Forum in July 2013 to facilitate discussion about gaps and challenges in caring for adolescent and young adult cancer patients and potential strategies and actions to improve the quality of their care. The workshop featured invited presentations from clinicians and other advocates working to improve the care and outcomes for the adolescent and young adult population with cancer. Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in adolescents and young adults. Each year nearly 70,000 people between the ages of 15 and 39 are diagnosed with cancer, approximately 8 times more than children under age 15. This population faces a variety of unique short- and long-term health and psychosocial issues, such as difficulty reentering school, the workforce, or the dating scene; problems with infertility; cardiac, pulmonary, or other treatment repercussions; and secondary malignancies. Survivors are also at increased risk for psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide and may have difficulty acquiring health insurance and paying for needed care. Identifying and Addressing the Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer discusses a variety of topics important to adolescent and young adult patients with cancer, including the ways in which cancers affecting this group differ from cancers in other age groups and what that implies about the best treatments for these cancer patients. This report identifies gaps and challenges in providing optimal care to adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and to discuss potential strategies and actions to address them.

The field of adolescents and young adult (AYA) oncology is experiencing a very challenging time. This book is a guide to the key issues for any clinician and health professional managing AYA with cancer in Europe. Emphasis is on collaboration between adult and pediatric specialists. Authors present their perception of the current state of the most prominent primary issues in AYA oncology. Chapters cover cross-cutting issues such as disease epidemiology, systems of care, access to innovative therapy and late effects of treatment and survivorship for AYA-onset cancers. There are discussions of the latest developments and the most important cancer types for AYA, including the shared perspectives of adult and pediatric specialists. Throughout the book recurrent challenges to the AYA community are exposed and solutions proposed. Tumors in Adolescents and Young Adults is highly recommended to any oncologist or haematologist treating patients aged 15 to 39 diagnosed with cancer. It will also be of interest to other members of the multidisciplinary teams involved with this patient group.

Germ cell tumors are relatively rare compared with other malignancies, and compilations of knowledge that encompass the entire spectrum of the disease are lacking. This textbook, written by the foremost authorities in the field, rectifies the situation by discussing in depth a broad range of topics, including biology, epidemiology, pathology, treatment, and late effects. Bearing in mind that germ cell tumors are most prevalent in the adolescent and young adult age group, causes of disease and treatment approaches in pediatric and adult patients are compared and contrasted. By spanning the entire life course, from prenatal origins of disease through to treatment in adults and late effects of treatment, the editors have produced a book that will be of interest to both pediatric and adult oncologists.

Intracranial germ cell tumors are a group of uncommon neoplasms of the central nervous system. The clinical features and natural history of these lesions are quite unique and variable. While intracranial germ cell tumors have been a fascination to neurooncologists for decades, the relatively small number of patients seen in any single institution has hampered the important clinical investigation that is so needed. This text is complete with detailed information concerning the epidemiology, pathology, oncological biology, clinical findings, radiology, and treatment options including surgical strategy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for this heterogeneous group of neoplasms. The ongoing clinical trials concerning the optimization of therapy are efficiently summarized. An important final segment addresses the late sequelae of therapy which is of great significance since the majority suffering from these tumors are young patients. This first and only book on intracranial germ cell tumors includes excellent and comprehensive data sheets, illustrations, and radiograms. It provides a detailed and outstanding reference source for physicians taking care of patients with intracranial germ cell tumors, and will be a very welcome edition to their reference libraries.

Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults is a practical guide to cancer care in adolescents and young adults. It considers the impact of diagnosis on individuals, and their families, as well as examining the impact on the health professionals responsible for their care. There are sections focussing on the adolescent’s experience of cancer and ongoing care needs during treatment, and on life after cancer, including rehabilitation and palliative care. • Builds on the forthcoming NICE guidelines on Supportive Cancer Care for Children & Young People, and recent Department of Health guidelines & policy initiatives • Adopts an integrated inter-professional approach • Contains evidence-based contributions from leading professionals in cancer care Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults is an essential resource for all those involved with the provision of care and support for adolescents and young adults with cancer. About the Editors: Dr Daniel Kelly is Reader in Cancer & Palliative Care, Middlesex University, London. Dr Faith Gibson is Senior Lecturer in Children’s Nursing Research, Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital and King’s College London.

This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date compendium of all aspects of brain tumors in children. After introductory chapters on the epidemiology of brain tumors, the book will provide readers with state-of-the art chapters on the principals of radiation therapy, neurosurgery and neuroimaging. Subsequent chapters discuss the biology and treatment of specific types of brain tumors. The concluding chapters present critical information relevant to survivorship, neurocognitive and other late effects, and the global challenges to better diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors in children. This book is co-authored by experts in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. All of the authors are internationally recognized authorities and they offer an evidence-based consensus on the biology and treatment of brain tumors. This handbook has far-reaching applicability to the clinical diagnosis and management of brain tumors in children and will prove valuable to specialists, generalists and trainees alike.

This volume is the result of many years of clinical research by medical and health care professionals working with cancer patients and their families. It demonstrates the impact of cancer at different stages of a patient's life, and how certain factors influence treatment and management.