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Challenges and Opportunities of Epidemiological Studies to Reduce the Burden of Cancers in Young Adults

  • Cancer Epidemiology (MB Terry, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

There are >1.9 million survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers (AYA, diagnosed at ages 15–39) living in the U.S. today. Epidemiologic studies to address the cancer burden in this group have been a relatively recent focus of the research community. In this article, we discuss approaches and data resources for cancer epidemiology and health services research in the AYA population. We consider research that uses data from cancer registries, vital records, healthcare utilization, and surveys, and the accompanying challenges and opportunities of each. To illustrate the strengths of each data source, we present example research questions or areas that are aligned with these data sources and salient to AYAs. Integrating the respective strengths of cancer registry, vital records, healthcare data, and survey-based studies sets the foundation for innovative and impactful research on AYA cancer treatment and survivorship to inform a comprehensive understanding of diverse AYA needs and experiences.

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Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (P01CA233432, awarded to Drs. Chubak, Hahn, Keegan, Kushi, and Nichols).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, McGavran Greenberg Building 2104F, Campus Box CB#7435, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Hazel B. Nichols, Chelsea Anderson & Christopher D. Baggett

  2. Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Hazel B. Nichols, Laura E. Green, Christopher D. Baggett & Tzy-Mey Kuo

  3. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA

    Karen J. Wernli, Ellen S. O’Meara, Marlaine Figueroa Gray & Jessica Chubak

  4. Veterans Health Administration, Greater Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Neetu Chawla

  5. Lacuna Loft, Oakland, CA, USA

    Mallory Casperson

  6. Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Chun Chao & Erin E. Hahn

  7. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Salene M. W. Jones

  8. Huntsman Cancer Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Anne C. Kirchhoff

  9. Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA

    Catherine Lee, Charles P. Quesenberry & Lawrence H. Kushi

  10. Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Marcio Malogolowkin

  11. Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Kathryn J. Ruddy

  12. Center for Oncology Hematology Outcomes Research and Training (COHORT), University of California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Ted Wun & Theresa H. M. Keegan

  13. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Brad Zebrack

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  1. Hazel B. Nichols
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  21. Erin E. Hahn
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  23. Lawrence H. Kushi
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the drafting and final review of this manuscript

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hazel B. Nichols.

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Jessica Chubak, Erin E. Hahn, Theresa H.M. Keegan, and Lawrence H. Kushi contributed as co-senior authors.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cancer Epidemiology

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Nichols, H.B., Wernli, K.J., Chawla, N. et al. Challenges and Opportunities of Epidemiological Studies to Reduce the Burden of Cancers in Young Adults. Curr Epidemiol Rep 10, 115–124 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-022-00286-9

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