Early detection is essential
Young people and cancer….
W
hen Katrina Studvent, 33, of Southfield
received a call from her primary care
Cancer in younger people is rare; however, there are some cancers that occur more often in
physician, telling her she had breast
the young than the old. The specific cause of each cancer is not known; however, what we do
cancer, she admits to waiting for the punch line.
know is that cancer is basically cells that are growing out of control. Normal human cells only live
21-28 days before they die to accommodate new cell growth. Cancer occurs when a cell or cells
“I thought my doctor was joking,” she said. “I’m
continue to grow uncontrolled.
almost waiting for her to laugh. I really thought it
was some morbid joke.”
Among the cancers that occur in children and younger adults are osteocarcoma, a type of
bone cancer, that affects more than twice as many teenage boys as girls; Ewings sarcoma, an-
But it was no joke. Studvent, then 30, became
other type of bone cancer; leukemia; testicular cancer,
the first woman in her family to be diagnosed with
which, while rare, is the most common cancer in males
breast cancer -— in her case, stage III breast cancer,
aged 15 years to 35; and rhabdomyosarcomas – a
the type that had spread to her lymph nodes.
less common, soft tissue cancer found in children and
Studvent said she found the lump performing a
young adults.
self breast exam and felt it was important to have it
The risk for developing some of the most common
checked out, considering her mother had detect-
types of cancers, such as breast, colon, cervical and
ed cystic fibroids in her own breasts, which turned
prostate cancer, increases with age. However, cervical
out benign. Studvent was not so fortunate.
cancer is on the rise among younger women, and is
She underwent several rounds of chemother- usually caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
apy, a mastectomy and the removal of her lymph
The good news is that more and more people are
nodes at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
surviving cancer. More than 11 million people who have
Center in Detroit.
heard the words “You have cancer,” are alive today
Today, she is cancer free and has learned
Katrina Studvent
thanks to the progress made in the treatment, preven-
much from her harrowing experience. tion and early detection of cancer.
“This is something serious,” she said. “If you
“The first thing is to recognize that illness sees
feel like something is wrong, you have to fight for
Still, receiving a cancer diagnosis, especially as
no color or age,” she said. “There are no stipula-
that mammogram.”
a young person, can be a life-changing experience.
tions.”
Knowing where to turn during this time can be a tre-
Dr. Flaherty encourages all women to get a
Studvent, mother of 4-year-old Alyssa and wife
mendous support. It may be difficult to find support
baseline mammogram between the ages of 35
Voncile Brown-Miller
of Donald, said the first obstacle that she faced
groups and other resources to support recovery. The
and 40. And if a woman has a family history of
was persuading her primary care physician to give
friends of young people with cancer may not know what to do or say. They say nothing and
breast cancer, she should have a first screening
her a mammogram.
sometimes isolate them unintentionally. Cancer is not a word anyone wants to hear, and after the
performed a decade earlier than when the earli-
shock, a person just wants to get through it. The fear of treatment, such as chemotherapy and it
“They didn’t want to give me a mammogram,” est family member was affected. In other words, if
side effects – including getting sick and hair loss – can be devastating.
she said. “It was a 20-question game, but I fought your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at
for that mammogram.” the age of 40, you should have your first screening
Adults have an opportunity to support young people through this journey. If you are a parent of
Dr. Lawence Flaherty, professor of medicine
at age 30. Dr. Flaherty also recommends getting a
child whose friend has been diagnosed with cancer, you can help them understand this journey
and oncology at Karmanos Cancer Center and
second opinion if you’re handed a breast cancer
and how they can not only support their friend, but ensure their personal growth and well-being
Studvent’s oncologist, said it is unusual to see
diagnosis.
at the same time. Keep in mind that as a friend of a cancer patient, a child must sort out their own
breast cancer in a woman so young. It is much
feelings, perhaps with an adult or other friends – and then face the issue of cancer with their friend.
“Cancer is an apple you get only one bite
more common in women 50 years old and over,
He or she may lose their hair and not be able to keep up academically. The important part is that
of,” he said. “There are no do-overs in the breast
he noted.
they know the friend cares – encourage your child to ask them how he or she can help.
cancer field.”
But what isn’t unusual is the fact that none of
Studvent has been proactive in her own treat-
Your child must learn to accept that his or her friend has cancer, where they are and work hard
Studvent’s family members had been diagnosed
ment process and attending to her own physical
to not burden them with their feelings. Encourage your child to listen to his or her friend; they will
with breast cancer.
and emotional needs. For the last three years, she
tell him or her how they are feeling. They may not want to eat or go out for soda; encourage your
child to try to understand if they don’t.
“It’s actually quite common,” Dr. Flaherty said. also has volunteered with Komen Detroit Race for
“Ninety to 95 percent of the women that we care the Cure.
The issue of cancer is a challenge for everyone involved. Friends, family and caregivers are
for do not have a family history of breast cancer.”
Among fellow race volunteers, Studvent has
often the most impacted when a loved one is going through cancer. It can draw people closer or it
And although the overall incidence of breast found an extended family that encouraged her to
can pull family and friends apart. The fact is when you are facing cancer, no matter what your age,
cancer is lower among Black women than among talk about her experience and provide emotional
you need as much information as possible. You need to know your disease, what questions to ask
White women (361.7 versus 433.5 per 100,000 support.
your doctor, and the various treatments available.
people, age adjusted), the mortality rate is greater
“Before I teamed up with Komen Detroit Race
The American Cancer Society is a tremendous resource for patients, family and friends during
(B/W ratio 1.09) and higher than for Black women
for the Cure, I didn’t really speak about it outside
this time. In addition to offering college scholarships to young cancer survivors in the Great Lakes
nationally (112.1 versus 110), according to data
of my friends and family,” she said. “Komen really
Division and Camp Catch-A-Rainbow, a summer camp for young cancer patients where they can
from the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance
opened up a door for me. It’s a family and they
go to have a normal camping experience and still receive treatment if necessary, the American
System conducted at Karmanos Cancer Institute
really help you through your process.”
Cancer Society is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to offer information, support and
and Wayne State University. additional resources. Call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org anytime.
Today, Student regularly speaks on behalf of
System data is part of the Surveillance, Epide-
cancer survivors and has initiated a birthday card
Together, we can all help save lives and create more birthdays.
miology, and End Results Program of the National
program for Wayne County women who reach
Cancer Institute.
age 40 to remind them to get a mammogram. She Voncile Brown-Miller
Data also shows that in Detroit, the overall inci- also advocates taking a proactive role in detecting
dence rate of breast cancer among black women breast or other types of cancer in all people.
Director of Health Disparity Reduction Programs
is higher than for Black women nationally (361.7
“Take time to examine your body,” she said.
American Cancer Society
versus 343, per 100,000 people, age adjusted).
“You need to ask questions. It is so important
Great Lakes Division, Inc.
The significance of those statistics isn’t lost on to detect all kinds of cancer. You have to find it
Studvent. early.”
Too young for Cancer • September/October 2009 | 15
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