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Young Adult Cancer Facts

Cancer is the leading disease killer in people ages 20 to 39.
An estimated 1.4 million men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Of this group, nearly one third will die of their disease.
In 2004, health expenditures for cancer reached $64.4 billion.
More than 70,000 young adults between the ages of 19 and 40 are diagnosed with cancer every year.
More than 11 million Americans are currently living with cancer.
One out of every two Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
For young adults between the ages 25-35, survival rates have not changed since 1975.

Annual Average Survival Percentage Changes
Group	Ages	Average % Annual Change
Pediatric Age Group	0-15	1.53
Adolescent and Young Adult Age Group	16-40	0.258
Adult Age Group	41-64	1.17
Geriatric Age Group	65-85+	1.684

Table data source: Source: Bleyer A, O'Leary M, Barr R, Ries LAG (eds): Cancer Epidemiology in Older Adolescents and Young Adults 15 to 29 Years of Age, Including SEER Incidence and Survival: 1975-2000. National Cancer Institute, NIH Pub. No. 06-5767. Bethesda, MD 2006.