Childhood cancer survivors at risk for subsequent neoplasms later in life

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Survivors of childhood cancer remain at increased risk for treatment-related subsequent neoplasms, even after the age of 40, according to a new study published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Previous research has shown that survivors of childhood cancer have an increased risk for subsequent neoplasms, but there is limited evidence demonstrating the risk after age 40.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 14,364 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. Of those, 3,171 had reached age 40 or older at the time of last contact.

Results showed that 679 subsequent neoplasms were diagnosed in patients 40 years of age and older. Of those, 196 were subsequent malignant neoplasms, 419 were nonmelanoma skin cancers, 21 were nonmalignant meningiomas, and 43 were other benign neoplasms.

Researchers found that survivors were more than twice as likely to develop a subsequent neoplasm after the age of 40 compared with the general population.

Specifically, childhood cancer survivors had a higher risk for breast cancer, renal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and thyroid cancer. Being a female and having underwent radiation were associated with an increased risk for subsequent neoplasms after age 40, as well.

The findings suggest that childhood cancer survivors should be monitored for subsequent cancers for their lifetime.