Prevalence of childhood cancer survivors increasing

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, researchers have found that the prevalence of childhood cancer survivors is increasing, and most of those who have survived at least 5 years beyond diagnosis may have at least one comorbidity.

Using nine U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries and data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), researchers estimated that there are 388,501 childhood cancer survivors in the United States, an increase of nearly 60,000 from the previous 2005 National Cancer Institute estimate. 

Researchers found that approximately 84% of survivors have survived 5 or more years since diagnosis. The study also showed that about 70% of childhood cancer survivors have a mild or moderate chronic condition and about 32% have a severe, disabling, or life-threatening chronic condition.

The findings suggest that more needs to be done to effectively decrease morbidity burden in childhood cancer survivors, particularly those with neurocognitive dysfunction, self-reported functional impairment, activity limitations, impaired mental health, pain, or anxiety and fear.