Cancer Prevention During Early Adulthood
CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control sponsored a supplemental issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine about reducing cancer risk during early adulthood. The authors, experts from many different professions, show the importance of working together to find effective ways to protect young adults from cancer.
Early adulthood is a time of many life changes, such as leaving home, getting a full-time job, and becoming a parent, each with challenges and stresses. It is also a unique opportunity to set a course for a long, healthy life. Research shows that people can do several things to lower their long-term cancer risk during this time of life, including—
Promoting healthy behaviors.
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Getting regular physical activity.
- Keeping a healthy weight.
- Using sun protection when outdoors.
- Breastfeeding.
Reducing use of harmful products.
- Avoiding tobacco products and secondhand smoke.
- Avoiding intentional tanning.
- Limiting consumption of alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks.
Public health professionals can use evidence-based strategies (proven ways) to address many of these risks at the community level. These papers also describe ways to counter the marketing of harmful products and social norms that promote unhealthy behaviors, the role of health care providers, and ideas for how other people in the community can help.
Articles in Supplement
Introduction and Background
- Brindis C. Setting the stage: advancing a cancer prevention agenda for young adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S1–S4.
- Holman DM, White MC, Shoemaker, ML, Massetti GM, Puckett MC, Brindis CD, on behalf of the Cancer Prevention During Early Adulthood Writing Group. Cancer prevention during early adulthood: highlights from a meeting of experts. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S5–S13.
Cancer Risk During Early Adulthood
- White MC, Shoemaker ML, Park S, Neff LJ, Carlson SA, Brown DR, Kanny D. Prevalence of modifiable cancer risk factors among U.S. adults aged 18—44 years. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S14–S20.
- Yang YC, Johnson MP, Schorpp KM, Boen CE, Harris KM. Young adult risk factors for cancer: obesity, inflammation, and sociobehavioral mechanisms. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S21–S29.
- Massetti GM, Thomas CC, King J, Ragan K, Buchanan Lunsford N. Mental health problems and cancer risk factors among young adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S30–S39.
- Anstey EH, Shoemaker ML, Barrera CM, O’Neil ME, Verma AB, Holman DM. Breastfeeding and breast cancer risk reduction: implications for black mothers. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S40–S46.
- Ekwueme DU, Allaire BT, Parish WJ, Thomas CC, Poehler D, Guy GP Jr, Aldridge AP, Lahoti SR, Fairley TL, Trogdon JG. Estimation of breast cancer incident cases and medical care costs attributable to alcohol consumption among insured women aged < 45 years in the US. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S47–S54.
Taking Public Health Action to Prevent Cancer
- McKnight-Eily LR, Henley SJ, Green PP, Odom EC, Hungerford DW. Alcohol screening and brief intervention: a potential role in cancer prevention for young adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S55–S62.
- McCloud RF, Kohler RE, Viswanath K. Cancer risk-promoting information: the communication environment of young adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S63–S72.
- Simmons RA, Cosgrove SC, Romney MC, Plumb JD, Brawer RO, Gonzalez ET, Fleisher LG, Moore BS. Health literacy: cancer prevention strategies for early adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S73–S77.
- Ling PM, Holmes LM, Jordan JW, Lisha NE, Bibbins-Domingo K. Bars, nightclubs, and cancer prevention: new approaches to reduce young adult cigarette smoking. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S78–S85.
- Falzone AE, Brindis CD, Chren MM, Junn A, Pagoto S, Wehner M, Linos E. Teens, tweets and tanning beds: rethinking the use of social media for skin cancer prevention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S86–S94.
- Hiatt RA, Handley MA, Ling PM, Burchard E, Thakur N, Bibbins-Domingo K. Origins of cancer disparities in young adults: logic models to guide research. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S95–S102.
- Schillinger D, Ling PM, Fine S, Boyer CB, Rogers E, Vargas RA, Bibbins-Domingo K, Chou WS. Reducing cancer and cancer disparities: Lessons from a minority youth-generated diabetes prevention campaign. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2017;53(3S1):S103–S113.
- Page last reviewed: August 10, 2017
- Page last updated: September 27, 2017
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