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Adult survivors of childhood cancer

  • Sherry Bayliff and Jeffrey A. Moscow
Published/Copyright: November 1, 2010
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International Journal on Disability and Human Development
From the journal Volume 9 Issue 2-3

Abstract

Approximately 80% of childhood cancer patients become survivors in need of long-term follow-up for the monitoring and management of residual and late-onset sequelae of their cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Late effects include any physical and/or psychological outcome that develops and/or persists beyond 5 years from the diagnosis of cancer. Childhood cancer survivors often have difficulty accepting their post-therapy health risks and their therapy-related physical and neurocognitive limitations. Parents have reported a consistently poorer health-related quality of life for their childhood cancer survivor than population controls of the same age and sex. Although late effects are frequent and can be serious for the childhood cancer survivor, the implementation of risk-based care and the education of care providers in the early recognition of long-term sequelae offers opportunity for intervention and improved outcomes. Although the pediatric oncologist remains an integral part of the survivor's care plan, the primary care physician is essential in the ongoing care of the survivor. Efforts to provide resources and educate all care providers remain an important part of the process.


Corresponding author: Sherry Bayliff, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Children's Hospital, 740 S. Limestone St., Kentucky Clinic J-459, Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA

Received: 2010-1-1
Accepted: 2010-2-12
Published Online: 2010-11-01
Published in Print: 2010-11-01

©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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