Health & Medicine
Childhood Cancer Survivors Are Living Longer, But A Chronic Condition Usually Follows
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Apr 01, 2015 11:42 AM EDT
Medical science has reached incredible heights throughout the years. With the help of many medications and treatments, childhood cancer patients are surviving and even thriving for much longer periods of time. However, statistics show that many survivors of five years or more will be diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition, thereafter.
New findings from the American Association for Cancer Research examined cancer incidence and survival data that were recorded between 1975 and 2011 from nine U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), and data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS ) cohort with a range of information on potential adverse and late effects of cancer treatment from more than 14,000 long-term survivors of childhood cancers at 26 cancer centers across the United States and Canada. Researchers first obtained estimates of the probability of each measure of morbidity from CCSS and then multiplied the estimates by a relevant number of survivors in the United States estimated from the SEER data.
They estimated the number of childhood cancer survivors in the United States to be about 388,501, which is an increase of 59,849 from the previous estimate made in 2005 by a team from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). From that number, about 84 percent had survived five years following their diagnosis. However, not all survivors were found to be left without a health problem following treatment.
Findings revealed that about 70 percent of the survivors were dealing with a mild to moderate chronic condition. For another 32 percent, this would be a life-threatening illness that could disable them, as well. For 35 percent of the survivors between 20 to 49, the problem would deal with neurocognitive dysfunction, in which about 13 to 17 percent of those in the age group would deal with mental health issues, activity limitations, extreme anxiety and/or fear or potential functional impairment.
"Our study findings highlight that a singular focus on curing cancer yields an incomplete picture of childhood cancer survivorship. The burden of chronic conditions in this population is profound, both in occurrence and severity. Efforts to understand how to effectively decrease morbidity burden and incorporate effective care coordination and rehabilitation models to optimize longevity and well-being in this population should be a priority. We know that many of these morbidities are at least somewhat modifiable in the general population. However, we don't know if typical population guidelines for preventive behaviors apply to this group. We need to develop a better understanding of the multilevel factors including, but not limited to, physical activity, diet, and treatment characteristics, which influence childhood cancer survivors' susceptibility to these morbidities in order to effectively prevent and delay their onset," researchers concluded, in a news release.
More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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First Posted: Apr 01, 2015 11:42 AM EDT
Medical science has reached incredible heights throughout the years. With the help of many medications and treatments, childhood cancer patients are surviving and even thriving for much longer periods of time. However, statistics show that many survivors of five years or more will be diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition, thereafter.
New findings from the American Association for Cancer Research examined cancer incidence and survival data that were recorded between 1975 and 2011 from nine U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), and data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS ) cohort with a range of information on potential adverse and late effects of cancer treatment from more than 14,000 long-term survivors of childhood cancers at 26 cancer centers across the United States and Canada. Researchers first obtained estimates of the probability of each measure of morbidity from CCSS and then multiplied the estimates by a relevant number of survivors in the United States estimated from the SEER data.
They estimated the number of childhood cancer survivors in the United States to be about 388,501, which is an increase of 59,849 from the previous estimate made in 2005 by a team from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). From that number, about 84 percent had survived five years following their diagnosis. However, not all survivors were found to be left without a health problem following treatment.
Findings revealed that about 70 percent of the survivors were dealing with a mild to moderate chronic condition. For another 32 percent, this would be a life-threatening illness that could disable them, as well. For 35 percent of the survivors between 20 to 49, the problem would deal with neurocognitive dysfunction, in which about 13 to 17 percent of those in the age group would deal with mental health issues, activity limitations, extreme anxiety and/or fear or potential functional impairment.
"Our study findings highlight that a singular focus on curing cancer yields an incomplete picture of childhood cancer survivorship. The burden of chronic conditions in this population is profound, both in occurrence and severity. Efforts to understand how to effectively decrease morbidity burden and incorporate effective care coordination and rehabilitation models to optimize longevity and well-being in this population should be a priority. We know that many of these morbidities are at least somewhat modifiable in the general population. However, we don't know if typical population guidelines for preventive behaviors apply to this group. We need to develop a better understanding of the multilevel factors including, but not limited to, physical activity, diet, and treatment characteristics, which influence childhood cancer survivors' susceptibility to these morbidities in order to effectively prevent and delay their onset," researchers concluded, in a news release.
More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone