Late effects in adult survivors of childhood cancer: the need for life-long follow-up.
BACKGROUND
To assess health status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in childhood cancer survivors who were not involved in regular long-term follow-up.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-three long-term survivors, median age 33 (19-50) years, follow-up 27 (9-38) years, were recalled to the long-term follow-up clinic. Most of them were treated in the period 1970-1990. Late effects were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3 (CTCAEv3). HRQoL was assessed by RAND-36. Socio-economic factors were compared with data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).


RESULTS
Grade 1-2 late effects were found in 54% of the survivors, grade 3-4 in 39%, two or more late effects in 70% and grade 2-4 previously unknown late effects in 33%. Survivors had significantly lower scores on RAND-36 compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
As nearly 40% of these long-term childhood cancer survivors suffer from moderate to severe late effects and 33% had previously unknown late effects it is worthwhile recalling these patients to follow-up. Where and by whom this follow-up can best be done is still a question that needs to be answered.
Blaauwbroek
R
R
Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Oncology, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.blaauwbroek@bkk.umcg.nl
Groenier
K H
KH
Kamps
W A
WA
Meyboom-de Jong
B
B
Postma
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009426:Netherlands; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors