Children's Oncology Group's 2013 blueprint for research: Survivorship and outcomes

Abstract

Improvements in the treatment of childhood cancer have resulted in over 360,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the U.S.. There is now a heightened recognition of the need to reduce treatment-related sequelae and optimize the quality of life of children treated for cancer. Survivorship studies conducted in the cooperative group setting have provided us with important information on long-term intellectual function, organ toxicity, reproductive outcomes, second cancers, late mortality, and disparities in outcomes. Ongoing health education initiatives have helped standardize the follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors and facilitate the early transfer of health-related information to patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation in girls undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplant: experience of a single centre

“…1 The long-term survival rate of children undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for malignant and non-malignant diseases is constantly increasing.…”

“…16 Since 2000, in our centre, we have enrolled female patients at high risk for subsequent infertility in the 'Fertisave' protocol (ovarian tissue cryopreservation). 1 …”

A literature Review of the Results from Nursing and Psychosocial Research within Swedish Pediatric Oncology

“…Young adult survivors of childhood cancer are a growing population of patients who may have a lifelong risk of potential complications resulting from their cancer therapy; these can have a negative effect on their health and wellbeing [5][6]. On the whole, the adjustments of young cancer survivors as a group are reasonably good, but the findings with respect to emotional and social adjustment are inconsistent [7][8].…”

Primary Gonadal Insufficiency in Male and Female Childhood Cancer Survivors in a Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic

“…14,15 In both males and females, PGI diagnosis can be complicated by concomitant secondary gonadal insufficiency that is caused by hypothalamo-pituitary damage from surgery or cranial irradiation (>40 Gy); however, even doses >18 Gy are associated with decreased fertility. 16,17 Factors affecting the risk of PGI include cancer type, treatment modality, age at diagnosis, and sex. 18 Chemotherapeutic agents, specifically alkylating agents (AA), (e.g., cyclophosphamide, busulphan) are gonadotoxic in a dose-dependent manner.…”