Childhood cancer survivors hospitalised frequently

Children who survive cancer in their early years are hospitalised more often and for longer periods of time than other people. This is often because they have developed blood disorders and other problems they experience years after cancer treatment has finished.

According to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, patients with childhood cancers face long-term health problems throughout their life.

Dr Anne C Kirchhoff, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, said the findings demonstrate that childhood cancer survivors "face ongoing problems" that can often lead to hospital visits.

She commented that this can last for decades past their original cancer diagnosis and can "negatively impact their quality of life".

During the study, cancer survivors were 52 per cent more likely to be hospitalised, and their number of admissions was 67 per cent higher, compared with age and sex-matched individuals that hadn't had cancer. 

Survivors were also 35 per cent more likely to have stayed longer every time they were hospitalised, compared to the control group.

"Regular cancer-focused health care is important for identifying health problems for survivors throughout their lives," Dr Kirchhoff added. "Patients and families who have experienced childhood cancer should obtain a cancer treatment summary and recommendations for follow-up care from their oncologist, and coordinate their follow-up care with their oncology and primary care doctors to ensure their health care needs are being managed."

About 50 per cent of the survivors included in this study were female, and 98 per cent were non-Hispanic white. According to the research team, found that there was no difference between genders as both were more likely to have been hospitalised than their control groups.

"We saw higher rates of hospitalisation across most cancer types, but not for all cancers, which gives us clues as to which groups of survivors may need better surveillance in the long term," said Dr Kirchhoff.