Conclusions
Adolescents and young adults with a history of cancer are at a higher
risk than the general adolescent population for developing eating
disorders and should undergo routine screening per general adolescent
guidelines. Screening was feasible in our pediatric oncology clinic, and
results were higher than the prevalence of eating disorders in the
general AYA population. Though AYA patients see their oncology providers
primarily for disease surveillance in the post treatment period, it is
important to remember that they also continue to experience general AYA
issues. Since these patients may not visit their primary care physicians
as often as their oncology team, oncology clinics should implement
screening for eating disorders in off therapy patients. Further studies
are needed to develop appropriate screening methods for on therapy
patients.