Policy Brief: Cancer Education in Schools
Written By: Sahana Kaza
Issue: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death today, and a lot of factors in our lifestyle are linked to increased risk for cancer. Students lack basic knowledge about cancer risk factors, warning signs, and ways to prevent cancer.
Why it matters now: Teaching students about cancer and increasing awareness of it can empower them to make a change in their lives and communities.
Recommended Policy Action / Bill: Age-appropriate modules incorporated into school curricula that focus on information about what cancer is and how it spreads, risk factors, and teaching students to evaluate health news sources and make good decisions.
Expected Impact: Increased knowledge amongst youth about cancer-related issues/developments
Context / History of the Issue: Schools lack curricula specifically on cancer, and as a result, students often do not know much about what cancer is or about different policies and news related to developments.
Key Statistics / Trends:
The WHO reported that 18% of children between the ages of 5 and 19 were either obese or overweight. Obesity increases the risk of certain cancers.
In 2020, 4.7% of middle school students reported using electronic cigarettes, and 6.7% reported using any tobacco product.
Outdoor air pollution contributed to 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2016, of which 6% were lung cancer deaths.
Current Policies or Programs:
Wonderkids program in LA: designed grade-specific modules to introduce children to different types of cancers through hands-on activities
No policy or program locally to address this issue
Problem Statement: Although the Wonderkids program in LA is effective, it is more of a local solution to the problem, and schools in the Bay Area and beyond do not have a cancer education curriculum.
Who is affected & how: Students are impacted because they will not be able to have access to cancer knowledge.
Evidence of Gaps:
1. Students lack awareness about what cancer really is and its impact
2. People from underserved communities lack resources to obtain accurate information
3. There are a lot of developments in oncology and not all news sources are accurate
Policy Proposal:
A. What the Bill Should Do:
Integrate cancer education into biology/health classes’
Fund trainings, workshops, technology, guest speaker events
Implement a preliminary cancer education curriculum tailored for different grades for schools to implement
B. How It Will Help / Rationale:
Increased awareness about cancer + prevention strategies
Youth empowerment to further raise awareness about cancer, take action
Reduces health disparities by ensuring that all students have access to healthcare information
C. Expected Outcomes:
More youth involvement in cancer advocacy initiatives
Better treatment outcomes and higher survival rates
Healthier habits early on(Eg: limiting tobacco use/smoking)
Implementing cancer education in schools allows students to be aware of cancer developments, different kinds of cancer, and what they can do about it. Teaching this in schools can empower the youth to make good decisions and empower them to make change in their community.
Works Cited
Cover Image: Getty Images, Andrea Obzerova
