Life Beyond Childhood Cancer

Life Beyond Childhood Cancer

Living beyond Pediatric Cancers is not a myth. With advances in the field of pediatric cancers, survival has increased to 80%. Today more than 5,00,000 childhood cancer survivors are there in developed nations. There is an unmet need for a good survivorship program which starts typically when a child is in remission.

A healthcare provider in the local
community in alliance with the primary pediatric oncologist form the crux of
this team. These children are usually followed up every year for late effects,
vaccination needs, and are encouraged healthy lifestyle practices. It is a
holistic approach which ensures these children can lead a normal life and stay
in the best possible health.

Does Surviving Cancer Shorten Life Expectancy

Life expectancy difference between childhood cancer survivors and children without a history of cancer has narrowed over the years with recent advances in field of pediatric oncology.

Late Effects

Problems related to treatment of cancer that occur or persist after surviving cancer are known as “Late Effects“. The potential late effects are emotional problems, growth, development and hormonal problems, fertility issues, secondary organ dysfunction, second cancers, transfusion transmitted infections. If late effects occur, recognising them EARLY help gives a best chance of offering treatment. Hence the need of a continuous long term follows up programme.

Psychological Effects

The diagnosis of cancer, prolonged
treatment and fear of it coming back can lead to many psychological effects
like post-traumatic stress disorders, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression,
body dysmorphic disorders, academic difficulties, peer relation difficulties
more so in teenagers.  Also over protection on part of the parent leads to
a lack of independence and obesity issues in young kids.

Does Childhood Cancer Come Back?

The odds of cancers coming back are
different for different types of cancers. Most cancers come back within the
first 2 years of diagnosis. After 5 years you are less likely to have a recurrence.
After 10 years your doctor may say that you are cured.

Prevention  

Unlike many cancers of adults, lifestyle – related risk factors (such as smoking, tobacco chewing) don’t play a role in a child’s risk of getting cancer. If your child does develop cancer, it’s important to know that’s it’s extremely unlikely there is anything you or your child could have done to prevent it. Very rarely in known inherited gene changes in some cancers preventive surgery to remove an organ before cancer can develop may be offered. But, again this is extremely rare.

Inputs by Dr. Purvi Kutty, Consultant, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai