Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Improving Care and Quality of Life (Cancers and Children)

Only more recently has it been realized that the intense effort to care for and cure a child with cancer does not end with survival. Continued surveillance and a variety of interventions may, in many cases, be needed to identify and care for consequences of treatment that can appear early or only after several decades and impair survivors health and quality of life. The more than two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors who experience late effects - that is, complications, disabilities, or adverse outcomes - as a result of their disease, its treatment, or both, are the focus of this report which outlines a comprehensive policy agenda that links improved health care delivery and follow-up, investments in education and training for health care providers, and expanded research to improve the long-term outlook for this growing population now exceeding 270,000 Americans.

Only more recently has it been realized that the intense effort to care for and cure a child with cancer does not end with survival. Continued surveillance and a variety of interventions may, in many cases, be needed to identify and care for consequences of treatment that can appear early or only after several decades and impair survivors' health and quality of life.

The more than two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors who experience late effects—that is, complications, disabilities, or adverse outcomes—as a result of their disease, its treatment, or both, are the focus of this report which outlines a comprehensive policy agenda that links improved health care delivery and follow-up, investments in education and training for health care providers, and expanded research to improve the long-term outlook for this growing population now exceeding 270,000 Americans.

Commissioned by the National Cancer Policy Board, the nine chapters in this report explore the medical, social, and economic consequences of surviving childhood cancer, identify essential elements of quality care, assess the status of applied clinical and health services research, and propose policies to improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors and their families. No index is provided. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) The childhood cancer survivors who experience late effects as a result of their disease, its treatment, or both, are the focus of this report. It outlines a policy agenda that links improved health care delivery and follow-up, investments in education and training for health care providers, and research to improve the long-term outlook. National Cancer Policy Board ; Maria Hewitt, Susan L. Weiner, And Joseph V. Simone, Editors ; Institute Of Medicine National Research Council. Includes Bibliographical References. Also Issued Online.