Childhood Cancer Survivors Suffer from Chronic Ailments: Study

Children who survive cancers are at higher risk of chronic ailments later in life, a latest study reveals.

Researchers at the St Jude's Children's Research Hospital compiled data of more than 1,700 adults who survived cancer in their childhood. The average age of these adults was 33. They found that 98 percent of the childhood cancer survivors suffered from at least one chronic disease in their adulthood.

The study further revealed that by the age of 45 almost 80 percent had serious disabilities. Sixty-five percent of the survivors had lung problems and 61 percent suffered from neurocognitive issues linked to endocrine problems. Fifty-six percent had heart issues and 48 percent had memory complications

"It is not surprising, but it helps quantify what our fears were in this population," study author Dr Melissa Hudson told Time magazine. "We have known for many years that adults who were treated for cancer in childhood have a higher risk for health problems, and these health problems appear to increase as they age."

According to the researchers, the reason behind such chronic ailments could be cancer treatment. For the treatment, the patient undergoes a series of scans and other tests. Dr Hudson advised physicians to tell their cancer survivors to have a healthy lifestyle."...It is particularly important for childhood cancer survivors because they have already had treatments when their organs were more vulnerable that put them at risk for types of diseases we see in aging populations," she said.