Survivors of childhood cancer for more than twenty years.

2001

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 semi-standardized interview consisted of measures evaluating the present 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 a…