1. Decades of treatment advances have not improved long-term health outcomes for childhood cancer survivors
Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M16-0742
URLs go live when the embargo lifts
Despite therapeutic advances over the past 30 years, adult survivors of childhood cancer continue to report poor physical and mental health status. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Advances in treatment and supportive care have led to improved survival for patients with childhood cancer. As adults, survivors may suffer from chronic medical conditions resulting from specific therapies and up to 25 percent report adverse health status in their 20s and 30s. Whether or not survivors treated with less toxic contemporary therapies have better health outcomes has not been evaluated.
Researchers compared the self-reported health status by treatment decade (70s, 80s, or 90s) of 14,566 adult cancer survivors who participated in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) to that of their siblings to determine associations between treatment decade and adverse health status. Patient diagnosis, cancer treatment exposure, chronic health conditions, demographic characteristics, and health habits were considered in the evaluation. The researchers hypothesized that patients treated in the 90s with contemporary therapy would report better health status than those treated in the 70s.
Despite an overall decline in radiation exposure, reduced mean chemotherapy doses, and decreased proportions of survivors with more severe chronic health conditions, patient-reported health status generally did not improve across treatment decade. Contrary to the researchers' assumption, the percentage of survivors reporting poor general health and cancer-related anxiety was highest among those treated in the 90s and lowest among those treated in the 70s. The authors suggest that survivors treated in a more recent era may have access to more organized follow-up care and educational materials about late effects of treatment and, therefore, may be more likely to anticipate or report adverse outcomes. As with the general population, demographic characteristics and high-risk health behaviors, such as smoking, were associated with an increased risk for adverse health status.
Note: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff. To reach the lead author, Kirsten K. Ness, PT, PhD, please contact the St. Jude's media department at [email protected].
Also new in this issue:
America, We Are Confused: The Updated U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation on Colorectal Cancer Screening
Michael Bretthauer, MD, PhD; Michal F. Kaminski, MD, PhD; Cesare Hassan, MD; Mette Kalager, MD, PhD; Øyvind Holme, MD, PhD; Geir Hoff, MD, PhD; Magnus Løberg, MD, PhD; Jaroslaw Regula, MD, PhD; Antoni Castells, MD, PhD; and Hans-Olov Adami, MD, PhD
Ideas and Opinions
Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M16-1805
Can Knowledge About Heterogeneity in Treatment Effects Help Us Choose Wisely?
Frank Davidoff, MD
Ideas and Opinions
Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M16-1721
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Media Contact
Cara Graeff
[email protected]
215-351-2513
@ACPinternists
http://www.acponline.org
