Key Statistics for Cancers in Young Adults

Learn about key statistics for cancer in young adults, including how common it is, who is most affected, and the outlook for those with a cancer diagnosis.

How common is cancer in young adults?

About 83,000 young adults aged 20 to 39 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.

Young women are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than young men.

About 8,300 young adults die from cancer each year. Cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in young adults overall, behind accidents, suicide, homicide, and heart disease. In this age group, it’s the leading cause of disease-related death in females and is the second leading cause of disease-related death among males.

What are the most common cancers in young adults?

The most common types of young adult cancer depend on age and sex.

For young people ages 20 to 39, the most common cancers include:

• Thyroid cancer
• Testicular cancer (in males)
• Lymphoma
• Melanoma
• Breast cancer (in females)
• Colorectal cancer

What is the outlook for young adults with cancer?

Survival rates can vary widely, based on the type of cancer and other factors.

Young adults with thyroid cancer, lymphoma, or testicular cancer are more likely to survive 5 or more years from diagnosis, compared with some other types of cancer.

Some other cancers in young adults, such as breast cancer, brain tumors, and colorectal cancer can be more difficult to treat.