Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 270,000 of the over 11 million cancer survivors in the United States are adult survivors of childhood cancers. Adult survivors of childhood cancers are faced with substantially higher risk of adverse health during their adulthood as a result of late effects from their cancer treatments, yet the actual effects each adult survivor might face vary widely according to the National Cancer Institute.  Late effects are so difficult to predict that it is even more important that adult survivors of childhood cancers visit physicians regularly to discuss survivorship. According to the American Cancer Society, most late effects observed among survivors result from chemotherapy and radiation treatment; however, another major concern is that adult survivors are at high risk for second or recurring cancers.

	Dr. Paul Nathan, MD, discusses research findings that show many adult survivors of childhood cancers do not get the cancer screenings suggested by experts. Dr. Nathan is clinical researcher at The Hospital for Sick Children and a graduate of the University of Toronto School of Medicine.     Common Late Effects • Heart and lung problems • Memory and attention problems • Learning disorders • Anxiety and depression

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) suggests 5 questions survivors should ask their doctors in order to get
up-to-date with screenings and testings:

1) What cancer did I have?

2) What treatments did I receive?

3) How can I best keep track of this information?

4) What is my risk of second cancer?

5) What screenings do you recommend, and when should I get them? 

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