Posts from — May 2007

There are a few different types of testicular cancer; the most common types are teratomas and seminomas.

Teenagers tend to suffer from a type of testicular cancer known as teratomas. A teratoma grows from a type of cell called a germ cell which are part of the reproductive system. Teratomas can form in the male teen’s testicles and, in rarer cases, the ova’s of female teens.

The other form of testicular cancer, Seminomas, tend to affect older men.

Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in any of the body’s soft tissue such as muscle, fat tissue and blood vessels.

There are many different types of soft tissue sarcomas, but the ones that tend to affect teenagers are rhabdomyosarcomas, synovial sarcomas and fibrosarcomas.

Rhabdomyosarcomas

The most common of the soft tissue sarcomas develops in muscles and their surrounding tissues. Rhabdomyosarcomas are most likely to occur in the head and neck, bladder or testes, but can sometimes develop in limb muscles.

Teenagers love to look good and with the modern pre-occupation with bronzed skin many teens hit the sun beds, exposing themselves to dangerous levels of ultra violet light which can lead to melanomas or skin cancers.

Melanomas usually start as a strange looking mole. It can be difficult to tell if a new mole is abnormal if it it is simple a new mole. Look for the following to determine whether a new mole is abnormal (if in any doubt, consult your doctor)

Asymmetry – Ordinary moles are usually even in shape all the way round. Melanomas are likely to have an irregular or asymmetrical shape.

Border – Moles usually have a smooth-looking edge. Melanomas are more likely to have jagged edges.

Colour – Moles are normally one colour (brown or black). But melanomas can have different shades of brown mixed with black, red, pink, white or even a blue.

Diameter – Moles are normally no bigger than 6mm across. Melanomas tend to grow bigger than this.

Symptoms of brain tumors are often triggered as the tumour grows in size, causing pressure on the brain.

Symptoms of brain tumours in teens frequently include headaches, muscle spasms and blurred vision.

Teenagers may also become irritable. Signs of irritability of frequent in teens which can make the diagnosis difficult.

Symptoms can also be related to the tumour’s position inside the brain. Areas of the brain that control stability, sensitivity and smell can also be affected by a brain tumour.

There are many different types of bone tumour, but the two most common kinds which affect teenagers are osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma. Sarcoma is the term used to describe a tumour which starts in connective tissue.

Osteosarcoma, sometimes called osteogenic sarcoma, tends to affect the legs of teenagers, especially around the knee joint, but can affect any bone.

Ewing’s sarcoma can also affect any bone but is most commonly found around the pelvis.

Many of the symptoms of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia are related to the way leukaemia affects the production of healthy blood cells in the body.

Teens suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia will feel tired and lethargic due to the lack of red blood cells.

Teens with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia will bruise easily due to fewer platelets in the blood.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia sufferers will be prone to infection due to low numbers of functioning white blood cells.

Other symptoms include swollen glands and lymph nodes.

Smoking as a teenager has been shown to significantly increase a women’s risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

Research has found that teen girls who began smoking within five years of starting their periods were around 70% more likely to develop cancer later in life than non-smokers.

These observations reinforce the importance of smoking prevention, especially in early adolescence.

Approximately 10% of women will have a risk of developing breast cancer at some point in their life.