Cancer Prevention Among Youth

CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control sponsored a supplemental issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health about ways to prevent cancer, with a focus on youth. The authors are experts from many different professions, showing the importance of working together to protect youth from cancer.

Youth go through many physical and social changes as they grow into adults. These changes create unique opportunities for cancer prevention. By addressing certain exposures and behaviors among today’s youth, we can reduce their chances of getting cancer in the future.

Examples include—

• Promoting protective behaviors.
  • Completing the three-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series.
  • Eating healthy food.
  • Getting enough physical activity.
• Reducing harmful exposures.
  • Avoiding sunbathing and indoor tanning bed use.
  • Quitting smoking and other tobacco use.
  • Preventing underage drinking.
  • Avoiding exposure to certain chemicals.
  • Limiting radiation dose during medical imaging procedures.

Articles in Supplement

Introduction

• White MC, Peipins LA, Watson M, Trivers KF, Holman DM, Rodriguez JL. Cancer prevention for the next generation. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S1–S7.
• Holman DM, Rodriguez JL, Peipins L, Watson M, White MC. Highlights from a workshop on opportunities for cancer prevention during preadolescence and adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S8.S14.
• Biro FM, Deardorff J. Identifying opportunities for cancer prevention during preadolescence and adolescence: puberty as a window of susceptibility. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S15–S20.

Environmental Exposures

• Carpenter DO, Bushkin-Bedient S. Exposure to chemicals and radiation during childhood and risk for cancer later in life. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S21–S29.
• Mahabir S. Association between diet during preadolescence and adolescence and risk for breast cancer during adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S30–S35.
• Frazier AL, Rosenberg SM. Preadolescent and adolescent risk factors for benign breast disease. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S36–S40.

Behavioral Risks

• Santelli JS, Sivaramakrishnan K, Edelstein ZR, Fried LP. Adolescent risk-taking, cancer risk, and life course approaches to prevention. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S41–S44.
• Dube SR, Arrazola RA, Lee J, Engstrom M, Malarcher A. Pro-tobacco influences and susceptibility to smoking cigarettes among middle and high school students—United States, 2011. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S45–S51.
• Holman DM, Watson M. Correlates of intentional tanning among adolescents in the United States: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S52–S59.
• Thomas TL, Strickland O, Diclemente R, Higgins M. An opportunity for cancer prevention during preadolescence and adolescence: stopping human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer through HPV vaccination. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S60–S68.
• Morales-Campos DY, Markham CM, Peskin MF, Fernandez ME. Hispanic mothers’ and high school girls’ perceptions of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus, and the human papillomavirus vaccine. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S69–S75.

Community- and Policy-Level Interventions

• Lazovich D, Choi K, Rolnick C, Jackson JM, Forster J, Southwell B. An intervention to decrease adolescent indoor tanning: a multi-method pilot study. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S76–S82.
• Strunin L, Wulach L, Yang GJ, Evans TC, Hamdan SU, Davis GL, Bowen DJ. Preventing cancer: a community-based program for youths in public housing. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S83–S88.
• Morse LL. Let schools do it! Helping schools find a role in cancer prevention. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S89–S92.
• Applegate KE, Cost NG. Image Gently: A campaign to reduce children’s and adolescents’ risk for cancer during adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S93–S97.

Conclusion

• Gehlert S. Turning disciplinary knowledge into solutions. Journal of Adolescent Health 2013;52(5S):S98–S102.