Faculty Collaboration Database

Health behaviors of minority childhood cancer survivors. Cancer 2015 May 15;121(10):1671-80

Date

01/08/2015

Pubmed ID

25564774

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4424117

DOI

10.1002/cncr.29202

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84929044230 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Available data have suggested that childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) are comparable to the general population with regard to many lifestyle parameters. However, to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding minority CCSs. This cross-sectional study describes and compares the body mass index and health behaviors of African American, Hispanic, and white survivors with each other and with noncancer controls.

METHODS: Participants included 452 adult CCSs (150 African American, 152 Hispanic, and 150 white individuals) recruited through 4 childhood cancer treating institutions and 375 ethnically matched noncancer controls (125 in each racial/ethnic group) recruited via targeted digit dial. All participants completed a 2-hour in-person interview.

RESULTS: Survivors and noncancer controls reported similar health behaviors. Within survivors, smoking and physical activity were found to be similar across racial/ethnic groups. African American and Hispanic survivors reported lower daily alcohol use compared with white individuals, but consumed unhealthy diets and were more likely to be obese.

CONCLUSIONS: This unique study highlights that many minority CCSs exhibit lifestyle profiles that contribute to an increased risk of chronic diseases and late effects. Recommendations for behavior changes must consider the social and cultural context in which minority survivors may live.

Author List

Stolley MR, Sharp LK, Tangney CC, Schiffer LA, Arroyo C, Kim Y, Campbell RT, Schmidt ML, Breen K, Kinahan KE, Dilley KJ, Henderson TO, Korenblit AD, Seligman K

Author

Melinda Stolley PhD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol Drinking
Body Mass Index
Case-Control Studies
Child
Exercise
Feeding Behavior
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Minority Groups
Motor Activity
Neoplasms
Obesity
Registries
Risk Factors
Smoking
Survivors
United States
Young Adult