Recognizing health risks in childhood cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information about the special health needs of childhood cancer survivors through a discussion of Wilms' tumor, a common childhood renal tumor, and case studies of two survivors of Wilms' tumor, who encountered significant health problems as adults. This information may be generalized to many cancer survivors.


METHODS
Actual case studies as well as extensive review of the current literature on childhood cancer survivorship.


CONCLUSIONS
Adult healthcare practitioners may help to decrease morbidity of childhood cancer survivors in adulthood when they are knowledgeable about the risks of this population. Resources are readily available, both in the medical literature and on the Internet.


CONCLUSIONS
With well-established success in the treatment of childhood cancer, there are many young and middle-aged adult survivors of the disease. However, as many as two-thirds of survivors may have chronic long-term effects of treatment. Most survivors eventually discontinue follow-up with their pediatric oncologists and receive primary health care from adult providers, many of whom are unaware of survivors' health risks. Awareness of primary care providers regarding the special health needs of childhood cancer survivors is critical to decrease morbidity and improve quality of life. The ever-increasing number of childhood cancer survivors is creating a public health issue as they transition into adulthood.
Nelson
Mary Baron
MB
Long-term Information, Follow-up and Evaluation Program, Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Childrens Hospital, Los Angeles, USA. mary23959@msn.com
Meeske
Kathy
K
D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents