Radiation Therapy of Cancer in the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Generation

Cancer of the adolescent and young adult (AYA) generation has received increasing attention in recent years, however, there were few reports on radiotherapy for this area. As for pediatric cancer, many cancer of the AYA generation were treated with radiation therapy as the multidisciplinary treatment. In this article, we will review reproductive complications, which are considered to be particularly important complications of radiation therapy for AYA generation, and describe investigation of radiation therapy for cancers of the AYA generations at the Hyogo Cancer Center and the Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center Kobe Proton Center. Germ cells are highly radiosensitive, and even low doses of radiation can cause infertility. Therefore, patients should be treated with sufficient knowledge to prevent fertility. Proton beam therapy for cancer of the AYA generation was useful therapy as pediatric cancer. However, proton beam therapy used less frequently. Insurance coverage, publicity, and access to facilities were considered issues for future study.