2022 Volume 59 Issue 3 Pages 270-274
Background: Recent improvements in the overall survival rate of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) has brought increased attention to its late effects. We conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the attitudes of CCSs towards comprehensive medical checkups, which can be effective to screen for late effects. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to CCSs who were aged ≤ 15 years at diagnosis, received cancer treatment at the University of Tsukuba Hospital from 1976 to March 2018, were ≥ 16 years at the time of the survey, and for whom five years had passed since diagnosis. Results: We sent questionnaires to 249 CCSs and 61 responded. Among the 61, 54 had valid responses, which we analyzed. The median age at diagnosis was 8.5 years, the median age at survey was 21.5 years, and the median number of years since diagnosis was 13.3 years. Forty (74%) CCSs answered that they did not know much about late effects. However, 49 (90%) answered that they would like to undergo a comprehensive medical checkup, 25 (46%) answered they would take it if it were free of charge, and 27 (50%) said they would take it even if they had to pay themselves. Discussion: Although CCSs had limited knowledge of late effects, most favored undergoing comprehensive medical checkups for their own health management. However, half of those who favored to receive medical checkups felt that the financial burden was a barrier, which may prevent some from taking such checkups.”
