Survivors of childhood cancer for more than twenty years

Present health status, complications, and development of long-term survivors of childhood cancer followed for more than 20 years in a single institution were reviewed. The departmental database was searched to identify patients diagnosed with childhood cancer and consequently treated between 1965 and 1978. A total of 124 (77%) long-term survivors participated on a voluntary basis in the study A zi mi-standardized interview consisted of measures evaluating the pl-es;nt health condition, sequelae of treatment, second malignancies, intellectual development and presence of offspring of the former patients. The majority of patients were treated with chemotherapy (82%), 67% received radiotherapy and 67% underwent surgery. A relapse of the primary tumor was diagnosed in four patients as well as a second malignancy in four other patients, in 33% of the long-term survivors one or more serious therapy-related health problems were noted. Adequate mental and intellectual development was achieved in 65%. Children treated in the early years of pediatric oncology seem to have a satisfactory outcome as viewed over the long term. Consequent ongoing follow-up is still necessary to detect health problems and enhance quality of life for subsequent generations of children with cancer.