Young Adulthood, Interrupted. By Cancer.
Young adulthood can be exciting, busy and challenging. It’s a time when people establish meaningful friendships, build careers and maybe even create a family. They’re figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world, with dreams for the future and plenty of time to make those dreams happen.
So, when cancer strikes younger adults, it can feel especially cruel. At Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, we understand these patients’ unique concerns and we have resources to ensure they receive exceptional care and support.
Unfortunately, cancer rates are rising in young adults. We recently spoke to four women who received a cancer diagnosis at a young age and relied on the experts at Winship to guide their care. We hope their stories inspire you to understand your cancer risk better and take steps to protect your health.
From "a Great Life” to Early Menopause
Life was everything Megan could have hoped for in 2023. She lived in Atlanta and worked at her “dream job” in tech. She and her husband, Geoff, often went out with friends and talked about starting a family. Then, in December, she received a shocking diagnosis of breast cancer.
Initial tests indicated the cancer was in the early stages and hadn’t spread beyond the breast. But doctors later discovered cancer cells in her lymph nodes. Instead of only needing surgery to remove the tumor, Megan also faced months of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“All of a sudden, I went from this great life to dealing with treatment and side effects and a long, unplanned absence from work,” says Megan, who is 38. “One of the chemo drugs put me into chemical menopause, which wasn’t great. Friends of mine are having babies, and I am dealing with night sweats and brain fog! It’s hard not to worry that I’ll never feel normal again and get back to the life I had before.”
Megan was often the youngest patient in the waiting room when she went to Winship for her appointments. And that’s no surprise —cancer is rare in young adults. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 4% of all cancer cases diagnosed each year in the U.S. are in adults ages 20 to 39.
The incidence rate is rising. A 2023 ACS report showed younger adults (under 50 years old) to be the only age group with an increase in overall cancer incidence between 1995 and 2020. The rate has risen by 1% to 2% each year during that period. The ACS report also showed continued increases in cancers such as breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrial and prostate among young adults. Cancer incidence rates in young adults in Georgia reflect the same trends.
Megan waits, excited to surprise Geoff on their wedding day. Zachary Toth Photography
Here, nurse Anna Hill at Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital administers a chemotherapy drug nicknamed "the red devil" for its unique color and sometimes severe side effects.
Megan receives a chemotherapy infusion.
Megan received chemotherapy infusions every other week for about 3 months. Her final “red devil” infusion was on June 10, 2024. Two months later, she completed her chemotherapy regimen with the last dose of a different drug.
Final "red devil" chemotherapy infusion 6/10/2024.
Megan’s Westie terrier, George, helped keep her spirits up during the many months of cancer treatment when she was unable to spend time at work and out with friends.
Megan’s Westie terrier, George.
"It’s hard not to worry that I’ll never feel normal again and get back to the life I had before."
— Megan, breast cancer survivor
The Importance of Early Detection
Certain cancers, such as breast and colorectal cancer, are more aggressive in younger adults, moving quickly from one area of the body to another. Early detection and treatment are vitally important to improve a person’s chances of survival.
However, in young people, a diagnosis often happens in the advanced stages of the disease. One reason is that routine screenings for breast, colorectal and other cancers don’t begin until later in life for people who are at average risk of getting the disease. For example, Megan was “too young” for a screening mammogram—the ACS recommends women get their first (“baseline”) mammogram between 40 and 44 years of age.
“We are seeing a lot of early-onset cancers across the entire spectrum, and researchers need a lot of funding and support to explore the reasons why this is happening. We have to do a better job to understand and beat these cancers.”
— Olatunji B. Alese, MD, medical oncologist and director of gastrointestinal oncology at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Dr. Alese adds that while no one knows the “why” behind the trend, researchers are exploring several possibilities. These include new genetic abnormalities, exposure to chemicals in the food and air, rising obesity rates among young people and others.
Knowing your family medical history and sharing the details with your doctor is critically important, Dr. Alese says. Your doctor may recommend cancer screenings to detect early signs of disease or genetic counseling to help you better understand your risk for inherited cancers.
"If you are worried about a symptom and your doctor isn’t taking you seriously, find another doctor."
— Olatunji B. Alese, MD
Cancer care designed around you. And your life.
Understanding that your type of cancer and your needs and preferences are unique, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University provides personalized and expert care with the most advanced therapies to ensure your best outcomes.
From diagnosis to treatment and long after, we’ll support you and your family every step of the way.
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Missing the Signs
Priya spent more than two years trying to understand the reason she was experiencing headaches, fatigue and cognitive issues. It wasn’t until she had a seizure in the fall of 2023 that she discovered the cause: an inoperable brain tumor.
“Before my diagnosis, I had been seeing a mental health therapist for a while, and she attributed my symptoms to stress and anxiety,” Priya says. “Yet talk therapy and anti-depressants weren’t helping. It’s frustrating. But then again—there’s no screening protocol for brain tumors, and my symptoms were non-specific. It wasn’t until the seizure that doctors had something concrete to go on.”
Priya, 33, and her husband, Dev, felt overwhelmed by the gravity of her situation. “My oncologist developed a treatment plan for me, but nobody made us aware of the non-medical side of my diagnosis,” she says. “We didn’t know how to process what I was going through or how to talk to our family and friends about it. There was just so much to manage, and we felt like we were on our own.”
The situation improved dramatically when Priya, a doctoral student at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, switched her care to Winship a few weeks after her diagnosis. “Everything was streamlined and well-coordinated once I got to Winship. I received holistic care from a team that really cared about Dev and me,” she says. “I started meeting other young people with cancer, and that helped too.”
Dr. Alese says Priya's experience demonstrates another reason young people with cancer often receive a late diagnosis: some providers dismiss their concerns.They simply aren’t looking for cancer in younger adults. “Your primary care doctor plays such an important role in helping detect early signs of cancer,” he says. “If you are worried about a symptom and your doctor or even a specialist isn’t taking you seriously, find another doctor.”
Looking for a primary care provider? Use our physician finder.
Priya and her husband, Dev, married in July 2021, and Priya was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 18 months later. Dev was a tremendous source of love and support throughout her diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Priya and Dev married in July 2021.
Priya knew cancer treatment would cause her hair to fall out. Shaving her head before that could happen provided a much-needed sense of control. Friends gathered at Priya’s home to encourage and assist.
Shaving her head before cancer treatment caused her hair to fall out gave Priya a much-needed sense of control.
Priya’s treatment included proton therapy at Emory Proton Therapy Center in Atlanta, followed by chemotherapy.
Priya receives proton therapy at Emory Proton Therapy Center.
Priya and Dev with their adorable dog Leo.
Priya and Dev with their adorable dog Leo.
Priya earned her doctorate from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.
Priya earned her doctorate from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.
"Everything was streamlined and well-coordinated once I got to Winship — I received holistic care from a team that really cared about Dev and me."
— Priya, a brain tumor survivor
Navigating a Life-Altering Diagnosis
Kate was lucky to receive a diagnosis within just a few weeks of experiencing her first symptoms. But the diagnosis of late-stage colorectal cancer was still devastating. She was only 37 at the time.
“I had always been very healthy and active before I got cancer. I ran half-marathons and triathlons and traveled internationally for work,” says Kate, now 45. “In late 2016, I went to see my primary care doctor because I was having a lot of pain with bowel movements. I thought, worst case scenario, I might have hemorrhoids.”
Extensive testing at Emory Healthcare revealed the extent of the cancer. Kate would need radiation therapy and chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove her entire colon. A year later, testing showed no evidence of cancer in her body. But the following year, the cancer returned.
“I was gutted,” Kate recalls. “After all I had been through, I just didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with it. I remember calling my mom and telling her, ‘I don’t want to do this again.’ I started to grapple with my mortality.”
During that challenging year, one bright spot for Kate was that Winship Cancer Institute started a support group for young people with cancer. “We meet monthly online, which allows more people to participate,” she says. “The group provides community and support for people like me who are dealing with a life-altering cancer diagnosis. It’s so good to talk to people who are coping with some of the same issues I am.”
Colon cancer is now the number one cause of cancer death among men younger than 50, and the number two cause of cancer death in women of the same age group. If you were born between 1981 and 1996, you face two times the risk of colorectal cancer compared to people born in 1950.
Ready to schedule a colorectal cancer screening?
Kate’s parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with Kate (left), her sister and brother-in-law.
Kate with her family.
Kate dearly loves being an aunt to her sister’s kids. Her nephew was only three months old when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.
Kate with her nephew & niece.
Kate was grateful to resume one of her favorite activities after dealing with cancer for several years: travel. She visited Guatemala in March 2024.
After dealing with cancer for several years, Kate was grateful to resume her love of travel.
Kate has traveled all over the world, including to Stresa, Italy, in May 2023.
Kate in Italy, May 2023.
"I started to grapple with my mortality."
— Kate, colorectal cancer survivor
Facing Fertility Decisions—on a Tight Schedule
A cancer diagnosis is devastating at any age. For young adults, the challenges impact every aspect of life, from their careers and finances to their dating lives and ability to start a family or care for their children.
More Stories ▶︎ Read about how Melissa and Jordan navigated cancer together before they were even married.
Fertility can be a significant concern for younger patients since cancer and cancer treatment can affect their ability to conceive a baby and have a healthy pregnancy. Emory Reproductive Center offers many procedures that may help. The catch? Those procedures typically have to happen before cancer treatment begins.
“My husband and I had to decide quickly whether to pursue fertility-preserving treatment because I needed to have cancer surgery as soon as possible,” says Megan, the tech employee diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.
"I had to delay my surgery a little bit to make time for a fertility procedure. Geoff and I wanted a chance to have our own kids someday."
Fertility preservation, the process of saving or protecting eggs, sperm or reproductive tissue to be used to have biological children in the future, gave Megan and Geoff hope for their future. “My cancer team understood what we were going through, maybe because they are all mothers who are close to my age,” Megan says. “One told me, ‘Our goal is to get rid of the cancer and prevent a recurrence. Give us a year to treat your cancer—we want to see you have babies and live your life.’”
Learn about fertility preservation services at Emory Reproductive Center.
When cancer strikes a young mother
The challenges are different for young moms with cancer. Tori is all too familiar with them. She received a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 2019 at the age of 30. After successful treatment in New Jersey, where she lived at the time, she got pregnant. She and her partner moved to Atlanta to be closer to her parents. Soon after their son was born in July 2021, the cancer returned.
Tori’s oncologist in Jersey City recommended she go to Winship Cancer Institute. He told her that Winship was not only a premier facility in Georgia but also one of the best in the country. Tori booked an appointment with Kristie A. Blum, MD, a hematologist and co-director of Winship’s lymphoma program.
From their first meeting, Tori says, “It was a really, really good experience.” She explains, “We talked about our families. She asked to see photos of my son, and we talked about her kids. And it just felt like I was less of a number and that she was really trying to speak to me individually.”
The primary treatment for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma is an autologous stem cell transplant. In this procedure, a specialist extracts a person’s stem cells and later re-infuses them into their body so they can regenerate healthy cells. Immediate treatment side effects can include nausea, mouth sores, headache, insomnia and restlessness. Delayed effects can include fatigue and neuropathy (nerve pain).
Tori felt physically and emotionally overwhelmed for months. She started treatment when her son was an infant and didn’t have the energy to play with him or to be a parent in the way she wanted to be. There were days she didn’t want to get out of bed. “So for me,” she says, “it was trying to find the strength in the midst of a very traumatic life experience, to show up every day and try to be the best mom I could be—but also make sure that I was taking care of myself so that I could be the best person that I could be.”
More Stories ▶︎ Meet Brandi Bryant, a young mom who focused on making memories with her children after her lung cancer diagnosis.
Tori underwent an autologous stem cell transplant to treat her Hodgkin lymphoma.
Tori underwent an autologous stem cell transplant to treat her Hodgkin lymphoma.
"It just felt like I was less of a number and that she was really trying to speak to me individually."
— Tori, Hodgkin lymphoma survivor
Finding Strength
Many young people with cancer share a common desire to find strength in their weakest moments and rise above the fear that comes with a life-changing diagnosis. For Kate, who received a colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2016, a gratitude journal has made all the difference.
“A friend of mine sent me a card that said, ‘Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day,’ and I have found that to be true,” Kate says. “Every day, I reflect on something good that happened and write it down in my journal. It grounds me and keeps me on a more even keel through the experience of living with a cancer diagnosis.”
Priya finds joy in simple pleasures shared with the people who have provided unwavering support through her health crisis. She and Dev hike on Sundays with their dog, Leo. And they love going out for brunch with friends. “When I was sick and getting treatment, I didn’t feel comfortable thinking about the future because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she says. “I still don’t know for sure. But I’m learning to give up control and be present every moment.”
Priya earned her doctorate in May 2024 from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and works as a maternal and child health researcher at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
Priya earned her doctorate in May 2024 from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and works as a maternal and child health researcher at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
Are you doing all you can to protect your health?
Cancer can impact anyone at any age. It’s essential for you to see your primary care doctor regularly, receive guidance on your personal cancer risk and seek care when symptoms arise.
Need to find a doctor? Emory Healthcare is here to help.
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