Some facts to consider....

Every year, over 12,500 young people are diagnosed with cancer. ¹

Approximately one in every 330 Americans develops cancer before age 20. ²

In the U.S., the incidence of cancer is increasing among adolescents & young adults at a greater rate than any other age group, except those older than 65 years. ³

Currently, there are approximately 500,000 young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 15 and 40 years old. ⁴

and yet....

Young adults (18 to 24 years old) are more likely to be uninsured than any other age group - 30.6 percent in 2005, compared to the national average of 15.9 percent. ⁵

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At 4-year private institutions, tuition and fees averaged $21,235 in 2005-2006, a 6% increase from 2004-2005. ⁶

Average health expenditures per person in 2004 = $6,280. ⁷

Average monthly rent on a one-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side or Upper West Side of Manhattan in 2005 = $2,400. ⁸

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Number of organizations in the United States designed to assist young adult survivors of cancer in facing these and other related "real life" expenses = ONE.

SURVIVING AND MOVING FORWARD: THE SAMFUND FOR YOUNG ADULT SURVIVORS OF CANCER.