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By Rebekah Addy, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- "Put your sunscreen on!" "No smoking!" "Go exercise!" Parents often give these instructions to their children and are often ignored. For survivors of childhood cancers, however, ignoring these requests can be dangerous.
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A new study reveals a large number of young cancer survivors are indulging in risky behaviors like smoking, not using sunscreen, and being physically inactive. While this behavior is pretty typical for many kids, cancer survivors are more likely to suffer the consequences.
For a study funded by the Lance Armstrong Foundation, researchers surveyed patients between ages 11 and 21 who were one or more years from cancer treatment and were in remission for one or more years. The researchers report 37 percent of the participants did not use suggested sunscreen protection, 20 percent did not get enough exercise, and 15 percent smoked cigarettes.
For children without cancer, smoking, not using sunscreen and being physically inactive can lead to future problems. For children who have had cancer, however, the treatments responsible for saving their lives also make them more vulnerable. Lungs weakened by chemotherapy are more likely to be damaged by smoke. Radiation therapy leaves patients with an increased risk of skin and lung cancers.
Many kids who survived the tough ordeal of cancer may have continuing problems handling stress, Kenneth Tercyak, Ph.D., from Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., told Ivanhoe. He explained older children facing more stressful situations in their daily lives are more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
"Probably the most important thing for young people out there who have been treated for cancer and survived, and clearly their parents are very involved in their health care, is to make sure they make sure they stay in contact with the health care team that provided their care," said Dr. Tercyak. Cancer survivors may need to stay connected to a medical service with expertise in providing long-term care.
Currently, most hospitals have various types of support for young cancer survivors. Dr. Tercyak said there is more to be learned about what goes on in these children's lives. "Just the phenomena of children surviving cancer, I mean, it's such a wonderful occurrence, and we are just learning what the issues are for these kids and teenagers as they grow and become young adults," he said.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Kenneth Tercyak, Ph.D.; Pediatric Blood Cancer, 2007; 47:825-830
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