A recent population-based study sheds light on the late endocrine complications faced by survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer. The study, conducted using data from the California Cancer Registry spanning from 2006 to 2018, focused on patients aged 15-39 who survived at least two years after their cancer diagnosis.
Erin E. Hahn, PhD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson of Medicine (KPSOM) Associate Professor of Health Systems Science, coauthored the article, “Late endocrine diseases in survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer in California: a population-based study,” published in the British Journal of Cancer.
The findings revealed a notable 10-year cumulative incidence of endocrinopathies among the survivors. The highest incidence rates were observed for diabetes, hypothyroidism, and other thyroid disorders. The prevalence of specific endocrinopathies varied across cancer types, with hypothyroidism being most common in Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, breast, and cervical cancer survivors. Several factors identified as contributors include the type of treatment, advanced cancer stage, public insurance, residence in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, older age, and non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity.