Many Childhood Cancer Survivors Not Checking for Second Malignancies

Related Encyclopedia • Abdominoplasty • Acidophilus • Acne • Adenocarcinoma of the Lung and Brain Metastases More... Related Healthscout Videos The Cure Within The Future Human: Linking Man with Machine Easier Breastfeeding for Moms Skin Cancer: It's About the ABC's More... Related Animations • Breast Self-Exam Video • Colon Cancer • Dental Cavities • GERD More... Related Drug Information • Aciphex • Adderal XR • Concerta • Epogen More... Related News Articles • Making Your Way Through the Fog of Chemotherapy • Today's College Students More Likely to Lack Empathy • Injuries From Underage Drinking Rise Over Memorial Day Weekend • Johnson & Johnson Criticized Over Drug Recall More...

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >>

Added Dr. Aziza Shad, director of the cancer survivorship program at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center: "The problem is that many primary care providers are not up to date on the guidelines. We haven't been able to provide education for primary care providers, and there are so many other doctors who also provide care."

The second study, also using data from the Childhood Cancer Survivors Study, found that 9 percent of childhood cancer survivors showed signs or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) long after their diagnosis and treatment, compared with 2 percent of their healthy siblings.

"This is very, very significant, a more than four-fold increase in risk," said study author Dr. Margaret Stuber, the Jane and Marc Nathanson professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine.

Text Continues Below

---

Intense treatment, as well as radiation to the brain, before the age of 4 were predictors of later PTSD, the study found.

Having PTSD was also associated with other worrisome issues. "People with PTSD were less likely to be employed, less likely to have finished high school, have personal incomes under $20,000 per year, and less likely to be married than the rest of the survivor group," Stuber said.

"The good news is that 90 percent of cancer survivors are resilient," Stuber said.

In other research presented at the Monday press conference, Greek researchers reported that radiating only the part of the breast affected by cancer is just as effective as radiating the entire breast in terms of overall survival and metastasis.

However, the meta-analysis of three previous trials also found that local recurrences were more common in women undergoing partial irradiation.

The advantage of the partial-breast regimen is that it lasts only five days, as opposed to five weeks for conventional radiation and therefore can improve compliance, said Dr. Jennifer C. Obel, an attending physician at NorthShore University Health System in Illinois and moderator of the press conference.

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >>