Onkológia 3/2020

Pediatric cancer survivorship

The remarkable success in treating pediatric malignancies over the past 40 years made it imperative to evaluate the impact of intensive cancer treatment on survivors. Early mortality and high prevalence of chronic medical conditions represent significant problems resulting in the necessity of subsequent lifelong follow-up, based on the fact, that appropriate screening methods may reduce the risk, thus enhance the quality of long-term survival. It is particularly important to provide knowledge at the completion of therapy regarding survivors current health status and systematic surveillance and follow-up practices to prevent potential long-term toxicity or to treat the late-occuring events after the treatment for childhood cancer. The optimal model of transition from pediatric subspecialty to adult subspecialty requires appropriate compliance of the patient, especially in the context of cancer survivorship. The first step is to redefine the concept of transition care for survivors of childhood cancer based on existing evidence.

Keywords: childhood cancer, late effects, quality of life, long-term survival, long-term follow-up care, transition care