Cancer in adolescents and young adults.

Cancer is a significant health problem in the adolescent and young adult population. Confusion exists within the field of pediatric oncology with respect to the definition of childhood cancer, since most population-based incidence studies define childhood cancer on the basis of age alone. We recommend that the scope of pediatric oncology include the study and treatment of cancer in infants, children, adolescents, and young adults, recognizing that significant differences in the frequency of specific types of cancer exist within various age groups between 0 and 21 years of age. We can expand our knowledge of the causes and treatment of adolescents and young adults with cancer (i.e, potentially unique etiologic and biologic issues, gains in survival, and the late sequelae of cancer therapy) only by the identification of such patients to a coordinated research base such as that offered by the pediatric cooperative groups and the entry of all potentially eligible patients on pediatric cooperative group clinical trials. In an attempt to assess the success in the identification of adolescent and young adult patients 15 to 21 years of age, an analysis of data provided through the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program was undertaken.