Young Cancer Patients Often Waited Months to See a Doctor, Study Finds

Many young adults with cancer wait months or even years after noticing a symptom before they see a physician, and some are brushed off when they do, according to a study from the University at Buffalo published Aug. 22 in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.

Natasha Allard, a postdoctoral associate at the university who earned her doctorate in community health and health behavior in 2026, built the study from her dissertation. Heather Orom, associate professor in the School of Public Health and Health Professions, served as co-author and mentor, together with Thomas Feeley of the Department of Communication, two researchers with Roswell Park and one with Hunter College.

At the beginning of 2023, Allard interviewed 30 people nationwide who had been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20 and 39. On average, participants were 28 at diagnosis and about four years past it. She asked each to go back to the first symptom or gut feeling they remembered.

Stress, search results and shrugs

Many put off seeking care because they blamed symptoms on stress. Some found information online that downplayed what they felt or gave unclear guidance. One young woman had abnormal bleeding for a year and figured her body was just "built differently." She was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 35.

When patients did see a doctor, their concerns were often dismissed. One provider suggested a gluten-free diet to a patient with rectal bleeding who was later diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 39. A 23-year-old later found to have brain cancer was sent home with a sleep aid. A 27-year-old made three or four trips to doctors before anyone ordered an MRI.

The delays in seeking care did not surprise Allard, who notes that young adulthood often brings new jobs, new homes and new friendships. What surprised her was how often doctors waved off classic warning signs. She acknowledged that doctors face overloaded schedules and insurance limits, and that cancer is still rare in young adults.

"But a symptom that won't go away still deserves a closer look," she said. Interviewees who felt comfortable in the health system kept pushing for answers, while others accepted the first explanation and waited longer.

What Allard proposes

She would like to see social media and public-space campaigns that help young adults recognize warning signs. She also suggests using AI to prepare for appointments, by making a list of questions and a timeline of symptoms, rather than for self-diagnosis. For doctors, she recommends communication training focused on listening to young adults and giving clear follow-up instructions.

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is among the five leading causes of death for adults ages 20 to 39, and for young women it is the leading cause of disease-related death. Allard dedicated her dissertation to a friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 testicular cancer at 26 and died at 31.

Source: Cancer Causes & Control