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Annals of Oncology Advance Access originally published online on September 5, 2007
Annals of Oncology 2007 18(11):1898-1902; doi:10.1093/annonc/mdm336
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© 2007 European Society for Medical Oncology

pediatric malignancies

Late effects in adult survivors of childhood cancer: the need for life-long follow-up

R. Blaauwbroek1,*, K. H. Groenier2, W. A. Kamps1, B. Meyboom-de Jong2 and A. Postma1

1 Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Oncology
2 Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

* Correspondence to: Mrs R. Blaauwbroek, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Oncology, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-503610391; Fax: +31-503611671; E-mail: r.blaauwbroek{at}bkk.umcg.nl

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.

Patients and 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.

Key words: childhood cancer survivors, grading of late effects, long-term follow-up, HRQoL

Received for publication November 22, 2006. Revision received March 19, 2007. Revision received May 14, 2007. Accepted for publication May 23, 2007.


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