Perceptions of future health and cancer risk in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Abstract

Background: Survivors of childhood cancer are at significant risk for serious chronic health conditions and subsequent cancers because of their prior treatment exposures. However, little is known about survivors' perceptions of their future health risks.

Methods: This study examined self-reported levels of concern about future health and subsequent cancer in 15,620 adult survivors of childhood cancer (median age, 26 years; median time since diagnosis, 17 years) and 3991 siblings in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. The prevalence of concerns was compared between survivors and siblings, and the impact of participant characteristics and treatment exposures on concerns was examined with multivariable modified Poisson regression to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: A substantial proportion of survivors were not concerned about their future health (31%) or developing cancer (40%). The prevalence of concern in survivors was modestly higher (RR for future health, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.09-1.15) or similar (RR for subsequent cancer, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.99-1.05) in comparison with siblings. Survivors exposed to high doses of radiation (≥20 Gy) were more likely to report concern (RR for future health, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.09-1.16; RR for subsequent cancer, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.10-1.18), but 35% of these high-risk survivors were not concerned about developing cancer, and 24% were not concerned about their future health.

Conclusions: A substantial subgroup of survivors were unconcerned about their future health and subsequent cancer risks, even after exposure to treatments associated with increased risk. These survivors may be less likely to engage in beneficial screening and risk-reduction activities. Cancer 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Keywords: childhood cancer survivor; chronic health conditions; cohort study; concern about late effects; late effects of treatment; risk perception; subsequent cancer.

Figure 1

Longitudinal levels of concern among survivors diagnosed from a) 1970-1986, with a median time interval of 19.4 years (range: 11-24 years); b) 1987-1999, with a median time interval of 4.6 years (range: 1-9 years)

Figure 1

Longitudinal levels of concern among survivors diagnosed from a) 1970-1986, with a median time interval of 19.4 years (range: 11-24 years); b) 1987-1999, with a median time interval of 4.6 years (range: 1-9 years)