Childhood Ca Survivors Lack Optimal Screening

Significant predictors of adherence to mammography were older age at interview (relative risk 1.09) and care at a cancer center (RR 1.70). Older age at time of interview was the only significant predictor of colonoscopy adherence (RR 1.08). Predictors of adherence to the skin examination were care at a cancer center (RR 1.55) and the survivor's having a treatment summary (RR 1.30). Being a nonwhite patient was associated with a lower likelihood of adherence to the skin examination guideline (RR 0.63), Dr. Nathan reported.

The study was limited by the fact that the cancer diagnoses occurred from 1970 to 1986, “and clearly, therapy has changed,” Dr. Nathan said. Investigators are recruiting another 20,000 adult survivors who were treated as children between 1987 and 1999 to explore similar issues among a more contemporary cohort. The new study population also will include more minorities. About 89% of the survivors in the current study are white non-Hispanics.

As survivors of childhood cancer live longer, increasing attention is being paid to the long-term effects of therapy. A key question is whether changes at the time of the initial therapy will have an impact on these subsequent adverse effects. A consortium of institutions is planning intervention studies to address such questions and to see whether using innovative methods to educate patients about their follow-up needs will make a difference, Dr. Nathan added.

Dr. Nathan reported having no relevant conflicts of interests to disclose.

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Fewer than half of childhood cancer survivors at high risk for another malignancy get screened, Dr. Paul Nathan said.

Source Elsevier Global Medical News