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Please log in or register first (it's free!) to post your questions about cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYA) to Dr Eileen Poon, Associate Consultant from the Division of Medical Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Have problems? Please email your questions to marcom@healthxchange.com.sg.
Kindly note: Your question will go live/appear when the doctor answers it.
Dear Doctor,My family has a history of cancer (both paternal grandparents passed away from cancer – stomach and lung respectively) and I am worried that my 9-year-old son may be at risk of either or just cancer in general. How can I be sure? Are there tests he can take that could possibly highlight a predisposition to it so that we can take preventive measures? Thanks a lot.
Answered by Associate Consultant Poon Yi Ling Eileen from the Division of Medical Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Hi Concerned_mom,
Thank you for your question.
75%-85% of the cancers we see occur without a family history. They are what we call sporadic cancers.
Lung cancer has a lower risk to be inherited.
Stomach cancer is known to be associated with some hereditary syndromes. However, these are usually associated with a strong family history of specific cancers (such as colon, breast, stomach cancers) and these usually present at a much younger age.
In addition, hereditary cancers usually have a pattern whereby almost every generation of the family is affected with a related cancer. In each affected generation, it is also not uncommon to find more than 1 person affected.
Hence, if its grandparents affected at an age of more than 70 years old, with no other family members affected, it is quite unlikely that the risk of inherited cancers in your family is higher than usual.
Lung Cancer
For lung cancer, if the risk factors or index of suspicion is high, a chest x-ray or a CT scan of the lungs can be done. Risk factors would include being a heavy smoker or exposed to a lot of second-hand smoke, certain types of air pollution and radiation.
Worrying symptoms would include:
There are radiation risks to doing X-rays and CT scans, something I would be very concerned about especially in a 9 year old. I would not recommend this.
Stomach Cancer
For stomach cancer, risk factors would include:
- taking a lot of processed food
- having history of stomach ulcer
- history of gastritis with an infection of Helicobacter pylori
To investigate this, an OGD (Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy) would be needed. It is an invasive test where a scope is introduced into the mouth down the foodpipe into the stomach to check for abnormalities.
Without the above worrying symptoms, I would not advise for investigations to be done.
Without the appropriate family history too, genetic testings would not be advised.
However, should there be above worrying symptoms or family history, I will suggest that you pay your GP a visit. He/she should be able to do the basic investigations and direct you to a specialist if necessary.
Take care!
Hi Doctor,My cousin, J, was about 10 months old when her mother (then aged 32) was diagnosed with cancer (lymphoma). Her mother was upset with what she thought was post-birth weight (she still looked pregnant!) that just wouldn’t budge despite going on various diets and exercise. Although J appears to be relatively healthy (she’s now 25 years old), she is worried that she might get a similar type of cancer when she enters her 30s. Is this type of cancer more common among young adults? And what can J do to lower or remove the risk of being diagnosed with this type of cancer? Thanks!
Hi Tammy,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, Lymphomas belong to one of the cancers that are more common in those between 16-39 years old.
There are some risk factors, but the cause of which is largely unknown.
Most lymphomas are not hereditary, which means J should not have a higher risk of lymphoma because her mother had lymphoma.
There is no specific way to lower/remove the risk of lymphoma completely.
But what she can do is to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes:
My close friend has Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at 17 and is currently undergoing treatment. Would like to know if the cancer is curable and if not what is the survival rate in children with ALL?
Thank you.
Dear Hellopanda,
Yes, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is curable. However, this is also dependent on a few factors:
Treatment is intensive, and usually proceeds on to allogenic transplantation or consolidation and maintenance with more chemotherapy.
Your friend is lucky to have your support on this journey.
I heard that ovarian cancer does that only affect ppl in their 50s, it's becoming more common in teens and young women.
What are some of the signs and symptoms that young adults should be looking out for then? Do HPV vaccines help prevent ovarian cancer?
Dear Ms_lindy,
HPV vaccines are targeted mainly at prevention for cervical cancers.
They work because a good number of cervical cancers are caused by a Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Hence, the HPV vaccine works by preventing a person from becoming infected by HPV. By not becoming infected by HPV, the risk of cervical cancers can then be reduced. HPV is usually transmitted by sexual contact.
In Ovarian cancers, the trigger and inciting factors are different from cervical cancers. About 15% of women with ovarian cancer can have HPV. However, the role of HPV causing ovarian cancer is uncertain, and this can happen because the patient has had exposure to HPV before. At this point, the guidelines for HPV vaccines are to prevent cervical cancer in a women who has not been exposed to HPV before.
Many ovarian cancers are driven by the female hormones known as estrogens. For this reason, factors that increase the duration of estrogen exposure are associated. These include:
The average age at diagnosis is about 60 years old, and this risk increases with age.
Some of the common symptoms include:
Dear Dr PoonMy son had a sore throat and then “lost” his voice for a few days. Then when it came back, it sounded quite hoarse but there’s no pain. It has lasted more than 1 week now. We thought his voice was breaking (he’s 14 years old) or that the hot weather is making him “heaty”. I thought maybe he has mumps because his neck looked a bit swollen but he says there’s no pain. My friend says teenagers can get cancer too. Please advise. Thank you in advance.
Dear linda74, thank you for your question.
It is quite common for a bad bout of sore throat to last for a period of time. What your son had is probably “laryngitis” – inflammation/swelling of the larynx. This can result after a bad bout of runny nose/cough/flu. This is usually self-limiting and lasts less than 3 weeks.
If his symptoms do not resolve within 3 weeks, I will suggest you bring your son to a doctor for further evaluation.
There is a flu bug going around. Please take care! Do get flu vaccinations for yourself and family. But do take note that vaccinations can only be given when a person has recovered from his flu fully.
Hi doctorAre there support groups for teenagers with cancer? My friend’s daughter (she’s 19) has just been diagnosed with lymphoma and both are very upset. And now her daughter won’t talk to her and her behaviour has turned quite bad – she used to be a polite and outgoing child. We are very worried that she might have suicidal thoughts. Your advice please.
Dear sally,
We have actually just started a support group for adolescents and young adults with cancer. AYAs (Adolescents and Young Adults) usually fall between 16 to 39 years old, so your friend’s daughter definitely fits into this group.
One thing is, lymphoma is generally a curable cancer. But it involves chemotherapy and potentially radiotherapy. Your friend’s daughter is also behaving in an expected manner.
The diagnosis of cancer is devastating to anyone, much less to someone of this age group. Someone who is 19 is supposed to be in school or just starting out on their first job, making life plans. And this diagnosis essentially has thrown her a life’s curveball, with the future seeming uncertain and even bleak. Not to mention, all the scary investigations and information that is being thrown at your friend and her daughter, it can totally scare one off.
Some signs of active suicidal ideation would include:
Even without active suicidal thoughts, she may also have depression as a result of such a devastating piece of news. She may benefit from talking to another young person with a history of cancer.
Different people react to a piece of bad news differently, and not everyone will be open to the idea of a support group.
In our support group, we aim to try and bring some sense of normalcy to their lives by organizing activities such as leather crafting and coffee appreciation. We also have a Whatsapp group chat that includes medical advisors and social workers as well.
We will be having a movie screening on 26 May 2018 at a cinema and also an excursion to watch “Ballet Under the Stars” in September! Perhaps you can let your friend know about our existence? They can register at this link: bit.ly/NCCSarcomaandAYAsg
Should they have other questions, or would like to find out more first, you can contact my team and I at goh.wei.lin@nccs.com.sg
Dear Dr Poon,We have been trying to get pregnant for 3 years now and are not quite ready to seek medical assistance (e.g. IVF). I was wondering if maybe it’s my problem as I had cancer (ALL) when I was a child. I was treated with chemo for more than 3 years and I’ve been fine since then. Thank God! Could that cancer episode be a reason for infertility? Thank you.
Dear mom_wannabe,
Thank you for sharing with us such an intimate question.
This is very relevant and you have brought up one very important issue in cancer survivorship in young adults – Sexuality and Fertility issues.
ALL, or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, is a blood cancer that requires intensive chemotherapy treatment. These chemotherapy agents oftentimes include anthracyclines (such as Doxorubicin, Daunorubicin) and alkylating agents (Cyclophosphamide, Ifosfamide).
I am not certain if fertility preservation was available when you had your treatment. This should be offered routinely nowadays. Regardless, infertility is a common condition and is a condition that involves a couple and not just one person. This is also common in couples who have not had cancer.
Infertility is usually defined as a couple being unable to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse without use of contraception. Infertility is a major consequence of cancer and its treatment and is dependent on a few things:
The more intensive the chemotherapy regimen, the higher the chance of infertility in future life. They can potentially affect the production of eggs and lead to premature ovarian failure in a female.
So yes, it is possible that this may be related to previous treatment. However, there can be many other factors. I would strongly encourage you to visit a fertility specialist with your husband. Doing some basic investigations may help to determine if there is even an issue (or is stress a huge contributing factor), and what can be done if there is an issue. Sometimes, getting a checkup may help to allay fears and also help to make the process less frustrating. In addition, fertility treatments do not always equal IVF. Hence, it would be a good idea to find out more from your doctor.
Good luck! :)
Dear doctorMy children (8 and 11 years old) love swimming and I’d bring them down to the pool at least once a day. We use sunblock with very high SPF numbers and reapply when necessary. However, I’m still worried that too much sun exposure might perhaps cause skin cancer in the two kids, in their later years (teenager or a little older). Are oral sunblock pills recommended for children? Are there side effects? Assuming children can take the oral sunblock pills, will I still need to apply sunblock on my children? Thank you, doctor.
Dear aliceLPC,
Thank you for your question!
Sunlight is essential for Vitamin D production and has many benefits. However, you are absolutely right and prudent in applying sunblock especially with global warming.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been shown to be associated with cancer, especially UV-B. UV-B represents only 5% of the UV radiation reaching earth’s surface. UV-A is more common, but its role in causing skin cancer is not as strong.
You can also avoiding the sun during peak hours, wear sun-protective clothing for additional protection and using sunglasses and hats.
To the best of my knowledge, oral sunscreens have not been fully approved nor endorsed. In such situations, this means that there is not enough evidence. Medical evidence comes from having large numbers (potentially in the range of tens to hundreds of thousands) of people having tried the particular medicine with its effects and results documented. This also means that the full range of potential side-effects may not be known.
In such situations, I will especially not recommend that children consume them. They certainly cannot serve as replacements of physical sunscreens.
Dear Dr Poon,
Could my teenage daughter (now 13) get breast cancer? I have never heard of teenagers getting breast cancer but we have a history of breast cancer (2 aunts and a cousin) on my husband’s side of the family. How is it diagnosed and are there symptoms that we can lookout for? Can my daughter have a mammogram or is she too young?Thank you!
Dear gemini45,
You are absolutely right in that teenagers getting breast cancer is not common at all, especially at 13. However, never say never and it can still happen.
Family history is important as breast cancer can run in the family. Hereditary (Inherited) breast cancer tends to occur young.
Symptoms to look out for include feeling for a lump in the breast, especially if the lump is hard, has ill-defined edges, painful. The difficulty with this is that your teenager daughter is still developing, and as such the density of the breasts may be more difficult to feel. Not all painful lumps are cancerous, especially around menstrual periods. It may also be difficult for your daughter to feel as she may not know what to be feeling for. Other worrying signs would include:
I will suggest a few things:
A mammogram is really like an X-ray. So if there is indication to do so, it can be done. The main worry is with the radiation that becomes accumulated if we repeatedly undergo scans. Hence, I will suggest you get a mammogram only under the advice of a doctor.
We usually use a triad of testing to diagnose breast cancer.
Hi Dr Poon
We found out my teenager son has been chewing tobacco and smoking the water pipe. He has a sore inside his mouth where the cheek area is and it looks quite dark in colour. He won’t go to the doctor but we are still trying to make him. He says it’s tobacco stain. Do you think it’s mouth cancer? Are there other symptoms? My husband and I have no cancer history. Thanks!
Dear evelyn,
Yup, totally agree that it can be tobacco stain, especially after a prolonged period of chewing. Prolonged chewing may lead to a sore too. However, I also totally agree that you should get a doctor to check it out as cancers or pre-cancer growths can start with just a sore/ulcer.
What the doctor will do, will be to feel for the area to make sure there is no lump. If there is, he/she would recommend for you to the appropriate doctor to get a biopsy.
Symptoms that can suggest mouth cancer would include:
Maybe you can strike up an agreement with your son. If after a week and the sore still persists, to then go to the doctor?
Good luck!
Dear doctor
My nephew (he’s 23) loves outdoor sports and I know he tries to do the right thing (apply and reapply sunblock and wears a cap etc…) when he spends a lot of time under the sun. I don’t know if they are tiny moles or freckles on his upper arms but they look like they have increased and changed in shape and size. I see him 1-2 times a week. I have suggested he wears those UV sleeves but he says they are too hot in our weather. Should I be worried? Thank you.
Dear aunt_may,
The sun can potentially result in increased freckles that can potentially darken with increased exposure.
We tend to worry about melanoma when some of the signs below happen:
Other skin cancers that can be related to sun exposure include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Usually, it would be a lump that keeps getting bigger, with possible ulceration and bleeding.
Applying sunblock is very important, and I'm glad your nephew does that. There are different types of sunblock with different SPF (sun protective factor). There are also sunblocks that can be water resistant. Maybe he can try those if he has not.
UV sleeves add a physical barrier, and while that is good, it can be quite hot.
I will suggest asking someone he is comfortable with to have a good check as a baseline whether there are moles/freckles anywhere, and in areas that he may not even realize. And perhaps, you can consider monitoring the moles/freckles?
However, if indeed there is a definite change in size and shape, then please bring him to a doctor so that they can take a closer look and determine if a biopsy is needed. One other thing you can do is to consider making an appointment with the National Skin Centre, and they would be able to advise if these spots are worrying
Hello there!I am concerned that my maid (she is 38 years of age) has a 5.6 x 5.9 x 5.1cm circumscribed lesion of soft tissue seen in the right anterior mediastinum.What should I do next? We did not get any letter of referral from her G.P. What is the chances of her having lymphoma? She often loses her taste buds. She has mouth ulcers frequently. She often constipated. However she has good appetite and put on some weight after she joined me some two and a half years ago.
Dear Patricia Lee,
Thank you for your question and for being such a responsible employer.
Is this lump new or old, and is it increasing in size? And has your helper had any previous surgery done to that area? One possible cause could be non-cancerous, known as a lipoma, although I do agree that this is not a common place. However, if she has had surgery done to that area, it can also potentially be a keloid. If this lump is growing however, I will suggest her getting another opinion, and potentially even a biopsy as even benign lumps can turn cancerous, although that risk is low.
Her age is an age where lymphoma can develop, although it tends to occur at an even younger age. At this age, breast cancer is more common; lymphomas tend to occur about 10% or less of the time. However, I agree with you that she needs to get this checked out as there can be other worrying growths such as:
Common symptoms of lymphoma would include:
I will suggest you bring her to the polyclinic for another opinion.
