According to the Institute of Medicine, approximately 270,000 survivors of childhood cancer live in the U.S. Because treatments are curing more children and teens than ever before, that number will increase every year. The majority of survivors face emotional or physical late effects from the chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation that cured their cancer. Below are a few excerpts from childhood cancer guides about survivorship.
Cancer Survivor Treatment Record – A printable Cancer Survivor's Treatment Record entitled "Taking Care of Yourself for Life" helps keep track of your medical history for childhood cancer. Have your doctor complete the summary of treatment and guidelines for health monitoring that may reduce your chances of medical problems in the future.
Follow-Up Clinics – 2006's list of Follow-Up Clinics for Childhood Cancer Survivors has been published.
The NEJM Article –The New England Journal of Medicine published two important articles on survivorship in October 2006. One concerns chronic health conditions in adult survivors of childhood cancer and the other describes the two-edged sword of cure. Both emphasize the need for life-long care after childhood cancer.
Interview with Kathy
and Wendy – Join Childhood Cancer
Survivors authors Wendy Hobbie and Kathy Ruccione for an indepth interview.
The authors explain how the increased number of childhood cancer survivors
have put strain on a system that isn't prepared for long-term follow-up
care.
Jobs – Survivors of cancer may face job discrimination, but there are ways to decrease the likelihood of this happening and to deal with it when it does.
Emotions – Improved treatment for childhood cancer is a huge success story in modern medicine. It is now known, however, that survivors and their families often face many physical and psychological challenges after cure.
Transitions – Periods of change can evoke anxiety and require time for adjustment. For survivors, transitions involve medical, psychological, social, and educational change.
