Potential Late Effects

As the number of childhood cancer survivors continues to grow, so does information on the long-term medical side effects, generally known as late effects, of cancer treatment. A late effect is defined as a chronic or late-occurring adverse outcome, complication or disability that persists or develops from the diagnosis of cancer. Studies indicate that more than two-thirds of young adult survivors of childhood cancer eventually suffer at least one late effect, with some survivors experiencing multiple late effects. Medical late effects can occur in any organ or system of the body and vary from person to person. Factors that affect your risk for late effects include diagnosis, age at diagnosis, gender, treatment, complications, family history, health prior to diagnosis and overall health.

Some late effects are visible, such as amputation of a limb or removal of the eye. Some will require testing in order to diagnose. These may occur during childhood, adolescence or may be triggered by an unrelated disease or effects of the aging process. As the survivorship rate continues to grow, the medical community is working continuously to adjust treatments to eliminate or minimize late effects.

Maintaining your oncology follow-up visits and yearly physicals will track currently identified problems and will also provide the opportunity to screen for late effects that may not have been present before. To stay knowledgeable about late effects, you can develop a Late-Effects Assessment of potential medical and educational late effects specific to your diagnosis and treatment. This information should be discussed with your physician.