Health Behaviors, Medical Care, and Interventions to Promote Healthy Living in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Cohort

Abstract

A B S T R A C TChildhood cancer survivors are at risk for medical and psychosocial late effects as a result of their cancer and its therapy. Promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors and provision of regular risk-based medical care and surveillance may modify the evolution of these late effects. This manuscript summarizes publications from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) that have examined health behaviors, risk-based health care, and interventions to promote healthy lifestyle practices. Long-term survivors use tobacco and alcohol and have inactive lifestyles at higher rates than is ideal given their increased risk of cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic late effects. Nearly 90% of survivors report receiving some form of medical care. However, only 18% report medical visits related to their prior cancer that include discussion or ordering of screening tests or counseling on how to reduce the specific risks arising from their cancer. One low-cost, peer-driven intervention trial has been successful in improving smoking cessation within the CCSS cohort. On the basis of data from CCSS investigations, several trials to promote improved medical surveillance among high-risk groups within the cohort are underway. Despite their long-term risks, many survivors of childhood cancer engage in risky health behaviors and do not receive adequate risk-based medical care.

Quality of life in children and adolescents surviving cancer

“…While a number of studies have reported adverse outcomes (Grant et al, 2006;Speechley et al, 2006;Stam et al, 2006;Reinfjell et al, 2009;Gurney et al, 2009;Nathan et al, 2009;Hudson et al, 2003;Mulhern et al, 2004;Oeffinger et al, 2008), others have concluded that QoL (Langeveld et al, 2002(Langeveld et al, , 2004Zebrack and Chesler, 2002;Shankar et al, 2005;Zeltzer et al, 2008Zeltzer et al, , 2009Servitzoglou et al, 2009;Sundberg et al, 2009) and psychosocial adjustment (Gray et al, 1992;Elkin et al, 1997;Noll et al, 1997;Patenaude and Kupst, 2005;Meyerowitz et al, 2008) are satisfactory for the majority of long-term childhood cancer survivors. Finally, a few studies have found that the prevalence of depression in survivors of childhood cancer equal that of healthy controls (Gray et al, 1992;Zebrack and Zeltzer, 2003).…”

Late mortality among 5‐year survivors of early onset cancer: A population‐based register study

“…16 Thus, promoting the control of known cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid disorders is a crucial aspect of preventive strategies in the long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors. 17,18 Similar to childhood cancer survivors, YA cancer survivors have been found to be at high risk to die from malignant diseases followed by non-malignant causes of death such as circulatory and respiratory conditions. 7,11 After 20 years of follow-up, a recent study found a shift from malignancy as primary cause of death to non-malignant disease among survivors of YA cancer.…”

Integrative and complementary practices in oncologic treatment and the role of nursing

“…20 In what refers to the specific malignancies, the most discussed in the literature were breast cancer 3,11,20,24,28,[38][39][40][41][42][43] and childhood cancer -lymphoma, leukemia, retinoblastoma and solid tumors. [44][45] In oncology context, the PICs are used in combination with chemotherapy and surgery and clinical cases with poor prognosis. 17,28 Looking for, thus, aiming healing, strengthening the immune system, minimizing the signs and symptoms of the disease, improving quality of life and the incentive to continue the conventional treatment.…”

“…3,19,[22][23] It read, also, the use of such practices with the purpose to prevent recurrent cases of the disease. 40 It was found that the biological basis of therapy, with the use of herbal medicine, is the main practice used in cancer treatment, 4,16,19,28,34,[37][38]41,[44][45] then supplements and diet. [19][20]27,34,38,[41][42][44][45] It is seen from this perspective that, among the types of alternatives, that have been emphasized is the herbal medicine.…”

“…40 It was found that the biological basis of therapy, with the use of herbal medicine, is the main practice used in cancer treatment, 4,16,19,28,34,[37][38]41,[44][45] then supplements and diet. [19][20]27,34,38,[41][42][44][45] It is seen from this perspective that, among the types of alternatives, that have been emphasized is the herbal medicine. It is believed that the good acceptance of this practice reason would be the fact it presents characteristics similar to allopathic medicine, that is, is the one that most closely resembles pharmacological measures, causing, however, fewer side effects and iatrogenic these.…”