News Release

Unique approach needed to accurately assess health of young adult cancer survivors

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

<I>Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology</I>

image: Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO) is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the promotion of interdisciplinary research, education, communication, and collaboration between health professionals in AYA oncology. view more 

Credit: ©2012 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

New Rochelle, NY, April 11, 2012—Childhood cancer survivors are living longer and there is an urgent need for better, more comprehensive ways to evaluate their health-related quality of life and need for psychosocial services, according to a review article in Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO), a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. JAYAO is the Official Journal of the Society for Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (SAYAO). The article is available free online at the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jayao.

Since the 1970s, the 5-year survival rate of childhood cancer in the U.S. has increased from less than 50% to nearly 80%. This significant increase in survival creates a resulting large increase in the number of adolescent and young adult-aged cancer survivors, the majority of whom will experience "late effects"—side effects of the disease or treatment that may occur several years later. Late effects can have detrimental effects on health-related quality of life, a multidimensional concept covering aspects related to the impact of disease or treatment on a person's life, and their perceptions of and satisfaction with these aspects.

Based on an extensive review of published studies, a team of authors has concluded that traditional tools created to assess health-related quality of life in adult-onset cancer are not sufficient for use in young adult survivors, and a broader range of measurement is needed to evaluate this population. Chandylen Nightingale, MPH, Barbara Curbow, PhD, Elizabeth Shenkman, PhD, and I-Chan Huang, PhD, University of Florida, Gainesville, Gwendolyn Quinn, PhD, University of South Florida, Tampa, Bradley Zebrack, PhD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Kevin Krull, PhD, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, reported their findings in the article, "Health-related Quality of Life of Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Review of Qualitative Studies."

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About the Journal

Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO) is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the promotion of interdisciplinary research, education, communication, and collaboration between health professionals in AYA oncology. JAYAO provides a forum for AYA cancer research and practice advances to all professional participants and researchers in AYA cancer care for patients and survivors. Our multidisciplinary editorial board and readership includes but is not limited to: pediatric, medical, and surgical oncologists of all types and specialties; oncology nurses and advanced practice staff; psychosocial and supportive care providers including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers; translational cancer researchers; and academic and community-based pediatric and adult cancer institutions. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed online at the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jayao.

About the Society

The Society for Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (SAYAO) is an international professional organization dedicated to improving adolescent and young adult cancer care through the promotion of interdisciplinary research, education, communication, and collaboration among health professionals. Patients aged 15-39 are a distinct patient population within oncology, and SAYAO focuses on the unique biological, clinical, psychosocial, and survivorship issues of this age group. More information is available on the SAYAO website at http://www.sayao.org.

About the Company

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, Childhood Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, and Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques and Part B, Videoscopy. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. website at http://www.liebertpub.com.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
140 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801
http://www.liebertpub.com
Phone: (914) 740-2100
(800) M-LIEBERT
Fax (914) 740-2101


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