Study Shows Chronic Health Problems in Childhood Cancer Survivors
November 07, 2006
More than a third of adult survivors of childhood cancer develop serious, disabling, or life threatening health problems related to their cancer or its treatment according to findings from The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This research project, which includes more than 10,000 survivors diagnosed between 1970 and 1986, who survived at least 5 years, also found that almost three-fourths have or will develop chronic health problems
Although the findings are sobering, at least a quarter of long-term childhood cancer survivors may not experience a chronic health problem. Moreover, the risk of complications can be reduced if survivors understand the type of cancer they had and the treatment they received, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and carefully monitor their health with the appropriate follow up care. "The impact of some of these health problems can be reduced with periodic survivor-focused follow-up," said Dr. Kevin Oeffinger, lead author of the study and a researcher at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. (To hear more from Dr. Oeffinger on medical late effects, listen to a free replay of the Beyond the Cure teleconference, Medical Late Effects for Childhood Cancer Survivors.
Major findings from the study include:
• Survivors were eight times as likely to develop a serious or life-threatening health problem as their siblings with no cancer history who were close to the same age.
• Secondary cancers, heart problems, kidney disease, thyroid diseases, osteoporosis, fertility issues, and problems with learning and memory were the most common health issues reported.
• Female survivors were 50% more likely than males to develop serious health problems within 30 years of treatment. They were also more likely to develop more than one major health problem.
• Survivors treated for bone, brain, and Hodgkin’s disease and nervous system cancers had the highest risk of developing a chronic or life-threatening health condition.
• Hodgkin’s survivors had a high risk for developing heart disease and secondary cancers.
• Those treated for bone tumors had a higher risk for bone and muscle diseases, as well as hearing loss and congestive heart failure.
• Brain-tumor survivors were at a greater risk for seizures, learning and memory problems, and hormone related disorders.
To learn more about the late effects specific to your cancer and treatment, complete a Late-Effects Assessment.
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November 07, 2006
More than a third of adult survivors of childhood cancer develop serious, disabling, or life threatening health problems related to their cancer or its treatment according to findings from The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This research project, which includes more than 10,000 survivors diagnosed between 1970 and 1986, who survived at least 5 years, also found that almost three-fourths have or will develop chronic health problemsAlthough the findings are sobering, at least a quarter of long-term childhood cancer survivors may not experience a chronic health problem. Moreover, the risk of complications can be reduced if survivors understand the type of cancer they had and the treatment they received, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and carefully monitor their health with the appropriate follow up care. "The impact of some of these health problems can be reduced with periodic survivor-focused follow-up," said Dr. Kevin Oeffinger, lead author of the study and a researcher at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. (To hear more from Dr. Oeffinger on medical late effects, listen to a free replay of the Beyond the Cure teleconference, Medical Late Effects for Childhood Cancer Survivors.
Major findings from the study include:
• Survivors were eight times as likely to develop a serious or life-threatening health problem as their siblings with no cancer history who were close to the same age.
• Secondary cancers, heart problems, kidney disease, thyroid diseases, osteoporosis, fertility issues, and problems with learning and memory were the most common health issues reported.
• Female survivors were 50% more likely than males to develop serious health problems within 30 years of treatment. They were also more likely to develop more than one major health problem.
• Survivors treated for bone, brain, and Hodgkin’s disease and nervous system cancers had the highest risk of developing a chronic or life-threatening health condition.
• Hodgkin’s survivors had a high risk for developing heart disease and secondary cancers.
• Those treated for bone tumors had a higher risk for bone and muscle diseases, as well as hearing loss and congestive heart failure.
• Brain-tumor survivors were at a greater risk for seizures, learning and memory problems, and hormone related disorders.
To learn more about the late effects specific to your cancer and treatment, complete a Late-Effects Assessment.
<< Back
