Cancer screening practices of adult survivors of retinoblastoma at risk of second cancers.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the current study was to investigate the pattern of cancer screening behavior in adult retinoblastoma survivors, who are at high risk of developing second cancers.


METHODS
Self-reported cancer screening practices were investigated in a cohort of retinoblastoma survivors to evaluate whether they were receiving adequate screening for specific cancers and compare these rates with those of other adult survivors of childhood cancer and the general population. The prevalence of breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, mammography, Papanicolaou (Pap) test, testicular self-examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scanning was determined from computer-aided telephone interviews with 836 retinoblastoma survivors aged >18 years.


RESULTS
Among female survivors, 87% had a Pap test within the past 2 years, and 76% of females age >40 years reported having a mammogram within the past 2 years; 17.4% of male survivors had performed monthly testicular self-examinations. A significantly higher proportion of hereditary compared with nonhereditary survivors reported having undergone an MRI or CT scan in the past 5 years. Higher education, greater contact with the medical care system, and having a second cancer were found to be associated positively with most screening practices. Cancer screening practices reported by retinoblastoma survivors were similar to national screening rates for breast, cervical, and testicular cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
To the authors' knowledge, the current study provides the first report of cancer screening practices of retinoblastoma survivors. Survivors of hereditary retinoblastoma should be encouraged to maintain, if not increase, their current screening practices to ensure early detection of second cancers in this high-risk population.
Sheen
Victoria
V
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA.
Tucker
Margaret A
MA
Abramson
David H
DH
Seddon
Johanna M
JM
Kleinerman
Ruth A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014481:United States