ETSU
receives $1.3 million grant
from American Cancer Society
 |
|
Joel Hillhouse
|
The American Cancer Society
(ACS) has awarded one of its
largest grants in Tennessee to
a researcher at East Tennessee
State University.
Dr. Joel Hillhouse, a health
psychologist at ETSU, has received
a $1.3 million grant from ACS
for a study that will focus on
skin cancer prevention in young
people, particularly college
students.
Hillhouse says that most young
adults understand that ultraviolet
radiation exposure is a serious
risk factor for skin cancer,
but preliminary studies have
shown that this awareness is
not very effective in motivating
them from altering behaviors
such as tanning.
“That is very unfortunate,” said
Hillhouse, a professor of psychology
at ETSU. “Research has
shown that indoor tanning is
strongly related to the development
of all types of skin cancer,
including melanoma, which is
often fatal.
“College students are
at a very critical age where
the damage they sustain to their
skin will set the course for
potential problems down the road.”
So how do experts get their
attention?
“It may be that we need
to find a different focus of
the messages we present,” he
explained. “Young people
likely view cancer as something
they may or may not have to be
concerned about until much later
down the road in life, so we
need to find other approaches
that will be more effective.”
The need to get their attention
is great. The American Cancer
Society estimates that each year
more than 1 million people will
be diagnosed with highly curable
basal cell or squamous cell cancers;
55,100 will be diagnosed with
melanoma. Some 10,250 people
will die of skin cancer—7,910
from melanoma, 2,340 from non-melanoma.
During the next three years,
Hillhouse will be teaming with
a colleague from Penn State University
to test appearance-focused educational
programs that address various
ways to encourage college students
to make proper decisions about
skin health.
Approximately 450 young adults
will be involved in the study.
Since 1946, the American Cancer
Society has dedicated more than
$2.5 billion to cancer research.
Cancer breakthroughs like chemotherapy,
pap tests, mammography, and tamoxifen
have been discovered through
ACS-funded research. This year,
more than $6.1 million is invested
by the American Cancer Society
at research institutions in Tennessee.
The American Cancer Society
is the nationwide, community-based,
voluntary health organization
dedicated to eliminating cancer
by preventing cancer, saving
lives, and diminishing suffering
from cancer through research,
education, advocacy, and service.
For more information, contact
the American Cancer Society at
1-800-ACS-2345 or via www.cancer.org.
