Late Effects
As you’ve no doubt heard from your care team, cancer treatment can have long-lasting late effects. Depending on the diagnosis and treatment, some can be obvious, while others might be more subtle or come later in life. For your own well-being, you’ll need to be mindful of your health - physically and emotionally. Listen and be sensitive to your body and your emotions.
Empower yourself with knowledge about your risks, so you can take proactive steps to catch any problems early on - exploring the topics in this section is a great way to start!
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Overview
More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health related issue by the time they are 45 years of age.
More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health related issue by the time they are 45 years of age.
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Relapse and Second Cancers
Over 70% of survivors we surveyed in 2023 rated a fear of relapse or second cancer as one of their top three health concerns.
Over 70% of survivors we surveyed in 2023 rated a fear of relapse or second cancer as one of their top three health concerns.
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Heart and Lung Damage
Childhood cancer survivors are at a 15-fold increased risk of developing Congestive Heart Failure and are at 7-fold higher risk of premature death due to cardiac causes, when compared with the general population.
Childhood cancer survivors are at a 15-fold increased risk of developing Congestive Heart Failure and are at 7-fold higher risk of premature death due to cardiac causes, when compared with the general population.
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Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue
Pain is common to cancer patients while they are undergoing treatment, but sometimes pain persists even after treatment - a late effect. This type of pain is known as chronic pain and it can be a side effect of your treatment therapies
Pain is common to cancer patients while they are undergoing treatment, but sometimes pain persists even after treatment - a late effect. This type of pain is known as chronic pain and it can be a side effect of your treatment therapies
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Fertility
Fertility is a sensitive and emotional topic. It’s especially difficult for cancer survivors, because some cancer treatments cause fertility problems in both men and women.
Fertility is a sensitive and emotional topic. It’s especially difficult for cancer survivors, because some cancer treatments cause fertility problems in both men and women.
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Hearing Loss
Certain cancer medications and therapies, namely platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and carboplatin, and cranial radiation that involves the inner ear, are ototoxic, with the potential to cause damage to the inner ear that results in hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance reduction.
Certain cancer medications and therapies, namely platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and carboplatin, and cranial radiation that involves the inner ear, are ototoxic, with the potential to cause damage to the inner ear that results in hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance reduction.
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Cognitive Impacts
If you have problems with learning and retaining information, problem solving, organization, focusing, or your processing speed, you may be suffering from cognitive dysfunction as a result of cancer or its treatment.
If you have problems with learning and retaining information, problem solving, organization, focusing, or your processing speed, you may be suffering from cognitive dysfunction as a result of cancer or its treatment.
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Endocrine Disorders
The endocrine system regulates hormones, and endocrine late effects in survivors include hypopituitarism, thyroid dysfunction, obesity, and diabetes.
The endocrine system regulates hormones, and endocrine late effects in survivors include hypopituitarism, thyroid dysfunction, obesity, and diabetes.
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Mental and Emotional Health
Childhood cancer leaves a lasting impact on a survivor’s mental, emotional, and social well-being. Symptoms of post-treatment psychological distress can include the unwanted recollection of painful cancer memories, uncontrollable physical or emotional overreactions, or going out of your way to avoid thinking about your cancer or treatment.
Childhood cancer leaves a lasting impact on a survivor’s mental, emotional, and social well-being. Symptoms of post-treatment psychological distress can include the unwanted recollection of painful cancer memories, uncontrollable physical or emotional overreactions, or going out of your way to avoid thinking about your cancer or treatment.
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Relationships and Intimacy
Survivors of childhood cancer often note feeling isolated from their peers, but young adults need meaningful connections with peers to thrive.
Survivors of childhood cancer often note feeling isolated from their peers, but young adults need meaningful connections with peers to thrive.
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Self-Care
Self-care is important for everyone but especially for those of us who are trying extra hard to stay healthy and be well.
Self-care is important for everyone but especially for those of us who are trying extra hard to stay healthy and be well.
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Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle
You can’t go back in time and prevent the damage that treatment may have done to your body, but there are some basics of disease prevention and healthy lifestyle tips that can help prevent some future problems.
You can’t go back in time and prevent the damage that treatment may have done to your body, but there are some basics of disease prevention and healthy lifestyle tips that can help prevent some future problems.
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Body Image & Acceptance
In our 2022 annual survey, approximately one in six young adult survivors of childhood cancer listed body image as one of their top three survivorship concerns.
In our 2022 annual survey, approximately one in six young adult survivors of childhood cancer listed body image as one of their top three survivorship concerns.
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- Megan, lymphoma survivor
At 32, she developed severe cardiac symptoms as a late effect of chemo and radiation from her teenage years and needed a full open-heart bypass.
“When you take pills seven times a day and see doctors up to five times a week, it gets to be all-consuming. My parents and I swap notes on meds and surgeries. Although they're climbing toward 70, I feel like I'm older than they are. They probably worry about out-living me."
Learn more:
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This section will teach you about Survivorship Care Plans, follow-up care guidelines, and transitioning your care from pediatric oncology to survivorship and adult primary care.
If you skipped this course, consider taking it now. Effective and sustainable survivorship care is critical for the long-term health of every survivor of pediatric cancer.
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This section focuses on the logistical building blocks of productive adulthood: post-secondary education, employment, disability rights, insurance access, and finances.
Take this course to help think through your career options, know your rights, and discover new resources.
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In addition to the educational courses for survivors, Children’s Cancer Cause supports a wide range of additional programs and policies that aim to address the medical and psychosocial care needs of pediatric cancer survivors:
The information provided in these courses and throughout this site is intended for educational purposes. It does not replace medical advice by a healthcare professional.