More Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are getting diagnosed with cancer. These are people juggling careers, young families, and a brutal economy.

While some of that rise can be explained by lifestyle changes, that doesn't tell the whole story.

We've spent the past year digging into this — talking with dozens of patients, caregivers, doctors, researchers, and economists to understand what's happening, what it's costing people, and what can actually help.

Scroll down to explore our reporting project, The True Cost of Young Cancer. Our video and six stories delve into the most pressing aspects of this trend, from the unique financial challenges to the patchwork of fertility laws that young patients face.

But first, here are six of the best tips we gleaned throughout our reporting. The

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