Background This review was conducted to update the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines (COG-LTFU Guidelines; version 4.0) regarding screening for psychosocial late effects of pediatric cancer. Procedure Articles published between August 2009 and January 2011 that addressed psychosocial late effects of long-term survivors of pediatric cancer (n = 35) were reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of COG late effect experts. Results The majority of studies in this time period indicate that survivors experience few psychosocial problems in long-term survivorship. A critical subset, however, are at increased risk for psychosocial late effects secondary to treatment. Highlighted findings from this review include increased rates of suicidal ideation (SI), and health beliefs as robust predictors of SI, anxiety, and global distress. Survivors’ health beliefs were associated with their perceptions of physical limitations, overall late effects, and cancer-related pain. While many survivorship studies continue to specify risk factors for anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS)/disorder (PTSD), others outcomes (e.g. developmental, interpersonal, and familial factors) appear to be emerging in importance. Conclusions Although the majority of childhood cancer survivors do not experience psychosocial problems, a subset will. The recent research findings have been included in the new COG-LTFU guidelines that will assist in the targeted assessment and treatment of survivors’ psychosocial health.

Fatigue and sleep-wake disturbances are significant problems for adolescents receiving chemotherapy and negatively affect the quality of life. Clinicians should routinely screen adolescent patients for fatigue and sleep disturbances and intervene to minimize their impact using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies.

dolescents diagnosed with cancer represent a group of patients with a unique cancer epidemiology, development profile, and research needs. The population's most common cancers include lymphoma, leukemia, central nervous system cancers, endocrine and germ cell tumors, and sarcomas-a spectrum of cancers different than that seen in adults or in younger children (Bleyer, Viny, & Barr, 2006). Adolescents face cancer and receive treatment at a time in life that is full of physical, social, and psychological growth that determines future careers, lifestyles, and relationships. These circumstances result in cancer treatment and symptom experiences for adolescents that are not likely to reflect those of younger children or adult patients. Age-specific research, therefore, is required to determine tailored disease and symptom-management strategies for these vulnerable adolescents with cancer. Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms reported by adolescents and rated as one of the most distressing (

Happiness may be a more direct predictor of QOL and depression than the intensity of treatment for cancer. Also, thinking negatively about one's past may be a more direct predictor of depressive symptomology than being female. Therefore, interventions that cultivate happiness and reframe time perspective may be effective ways to improve survivors' QOL and decrease depressive symptoms-regardless of gender and intensity of treatment protocol.