2017 Volume 54 Issue 1 Pages 11-14
Introduction: The five-year survival rate of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients has increased to approximately 90%, but the late effects of cancer treatment have become an issue in recent years. As the incidence of the late effects increases with time, long-term follow-up is important. However, patients and their parents do not have sufficient information about the late effects of the treatment, and some pediatric cancer patients withdraw voluntarily from outpatient attendance. We surveyed the outpatient attendance records of pediatric ALL patients at our hospital. Methods: Follow-up data of 107 pediatric ALL patients treated at our hospital from 1986 to 2016 were available and surveyed retrospectively. Patients not attending for one year or more after their last appointment were assigned to the discontinued attendance group. Results: Thirteen of the 107 patients were assigned to the discontinued attendance group, of whom 12 had withdrawn voluntarily. The outpatient attendance rate was 91% at 10 years after treatment but fell to 43% at 20 years. In terms of age at final observation, although the outpatient attendance rate was 93% for age 19, it was only 43% for age 30. Five patients in the 19 or below age group discontinued attendance, of whom two withdrew voluntarily after therapy completion. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that it is necessary on completion of therapy to educate patients and their families regarding the importance of long-term follow-up, with renewed emphasis at 10 years after diagnosis and at age 19.
