Child cancer survivors face health issues

CHICAGO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Because of cancer treatment as children, adults can face the threat of early heart attacks, other cancers, or depression, U.S. researchers said.

The Survivors Taking Action & Responsibility program, STAR, at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago is one of only four programs in the country that focuses on comprehensive healthcare of adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Dr. Aarati Didwania, who directs the program, said that 1 in about 300 children between birth and age 20 will be diagnosed with cancer. The cure rate for children with cancer has climbed to 85 percent and, for some cancers, it may soon reach 90 percent.

However, when these children grow up, recent research shows two-thirds of them will experience at least one late health consequence as a result of their childhood treatment.

"A lot of young adults think 'I survived cancer. That happened to me when I was a kid and I've moved on," Didwania said in a statement. "They don't think about the treatment they got when they were young and how it could have affected them."