Long-Term Follow-Up for Childhood Cancer Survivors

Abstract

The literature review of cumulative survival and cause-specific mortality revealed that the mortality of childhood cancer survivors has been significantly high even after 5 years have passed (the standardized mortality ratio was 4-17). The 5-year survivors of childhood cancer have also a high rate (60-70%) of chronic burden of disease from various late effects. The cumulative incidence of second malignant neoplasmas was 3.5-4.7% at 25 years and the standardized incidence ratio was 3.6-6.38. These results confirm the requirement of life-long follow-up of children with cancer. I introduced the models of long-term care for childhood cancer survivors (advantages and disadvantages of various types), and explained the follow-up programs which were proposed in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and so on. Lastly I discussed the issues about long-term follow-up for childhood cancer in Japan.