Cancer Issues
New Help For Cancer Survivors
By
Jan 28, 2010 - 8:29:32 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com)-There are more than 10 million cancer survivors alive in the United States today, at least 270,000 of whom were originally diagnosed when they were under the age of 21. Due to significant advances in cancer treatments over the past three decades, close to 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer now live at least five years or longer.

Managing Late Effects

Because of these considerable strides, however, managing late effects-health problems that may develop years later as a result of a survivor's original cancer treatment-has become one of the most critical elements of a childhood cancer survivor's long-term health care plan. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, 63 percent of childhood cancer survivors will experience at least one chronic condition as a result of their cancer treatment, and 27.5 percent will have a severe or life-threatening condition.

A Site For Solutions

To help, The National Children's Cancer Society and Dr. Robert Hayashi-a pediatric oncologist at the Late Effects Clinic at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine-created an online, user-friendly resource. It aims to educate and inform childhood cancer survivors of the potential complications and risks they may face as a result of their treatment. It also offers lifelong tips for wellness and health management with a pediatric cancer survivor's unique needs in mind.

"Until now, there has been a void of easy, accessible information for childhood cancer survivors," said Dr. Hayashi. "The Beyond the Cure Late Effects Assessment Tool alerts childhood cancer survivors to potential issues they may be facing and offers strategies to maintain overall health. It also helps to summarize past treatments and to recognize problems that may develop as symptoms appear. It can then guide them to appropriate steps needed for evaluation and management for these complications, which may emerge long after their therapy."

In addition, a customized profile can be shared with the survivor's current primary care physician. The site also acts as a data warehouse to allow survivors to access their profile from anywhere in the world.

Learn More

You can learn more at www.beyondthecure.org and (800) 5-FAMILY.

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