The CDC website features a new webpage on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Cancer that provides information and resources for action to create safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments for children as an approach to reduce their lifetime risk of developing cancer.

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur before age 18. Examples include experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect; witnessing violence in the home or community; and having a family member attempt or die by suicide. ACEs also include aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as growing up in a household with substance use problems, mental health problems, and instability due to parental separation or household members being in jail or prison. Communities can help prevent ACEs and reduce the harm they cause.

Research findings estimate that at least 6% of cancers could be prevented if children didn’t experience ACEs. That adds up to about 100,000 cancer cases per year that could be prevented. ACEs have been linked to a number of cancer risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol and substance use disorders, injection drug use, obesity, and sexual risk behaviors. In partnership with CDC’s Cancer Prevention Across the Lifespan workgroup, NACDD’s Cancer Prevention Across the Lifespan project conducted an extensive literature search, held subject matter expert interviews, and hosted a series of webinars about ACEs. The NACDD-hosted webinar series and more can be found on CDC’s new ACEs webpage.