Smoking in adolescents and young adults childhood cancer survivors

• Main Authors: Alberto Cárceles Álvarez, Miguel F Sánchez Sauco, Marisa Azurmendi Funes, Esther Tobarra Sánchez, Ainara Sanz Monllor, Almudena Pernas Barahona, Blanca García Torres, Juan A Ortega García
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Publishing 2018-06-01
• Series: Tobacco Prevention and Cessation
• Subjects: youth; prevention; tobacco
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/tpc/Smoking-in-adolescents-and-young-adults-childhood-cancer-survivors,90440,0,2.html

Introduction It is estimated that 70% of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) will present a late effect derived from the treatments used during the acute phase of cancer throughout their life, some of them potentially serious as cardiac dysfunctions or subsequent neoplasms. Smoking may increase the frequency and severity of these late effects. AIM: To present the prevalence of smokers in adolescents and young adults attending a long-term follow-up consultation in a Mediterranean Region. Methods Descriptive cross-sectional study. Smoking status was analyzed in adolescents and young adults CCS attending the Long-Term Follow-Up Program in the Clinical University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia, Spain) during 2017. Results 113 adolescents and young adults were analyzed (54.9% males) with ages between 15 and 34 years (median = 20 years). 14.2% of the CCS were smokers (11.5% daily smokers and 2.7% occasional smokers) with a median consumption of 32.5 cigarette / week; 2.7% were ex-smokers. The average age of onset in smoking was 16.4 years. In their residence, 52.2% were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, with 36.6% of mothers and 34.6% of parents smoking. Conclusions The percentage of smokers in our group is similar to that of other studies in CCS (8 - 29%) and is below the Spanish average. However, in a group so sensitive to the harmful effects of tobacco, it is essential to carry out intensive interventions in order to eliminate consumption. The prevention work in children and non-smokers is basic to prevent them from starting the consumption. Funding The authors received no specific funding for this work.