NINR Funds Cyber Support Initiative: Stroke Survivors And Caregivers To Benefit From Kent State Study

A stroke is a sudden event that can affect all facets of the lives of the stroke survivor and their families. Recovery for stroke survivors often continues well beyond initial stroke onset, making support from family or other caregivers critical to the recovery process. For those thrust into the role of caregiver, tending to the stroke survivor's physical and emotional needs can present many challenges--and the stress experienced by caregivers can adversely affect the stroke survivor's quality of life.

While stroke can happen at any time in life, older adults are the most affected population, and their spouses often shoulder the brunt of care-giving responsibilities. Kent State University researchers have been awarded a $361,350 National Institute of Nursing Research grant to develop, test and refine an innovative, Web-based intervention designed to alleviate depression in caregivers and stroke survivors through peer and professional support.

"The intervention is unique because we are among the first to provide a family care-giving intervention that is explicitly designed to improve the psychological well-being of both the caregiver and the care receiver concurrently," says Dr. Gregory Smith, professor of human development and family studies, who is principle investigator of the inter-disciplinary team of researchers, including co-investigators from the colleges of nursing and communication and information studies, as well as community health professionals. "Most past care-giving intervention research has specifically targeted improving the well-being of the caregiver only."

Smith says older adults, who indicate an increasing desire to communicate and glean information via the Internet, are a prime population for the intervention. A nurse will oversee and facilitate components of the online intervention including video education modules designed to increase caregiving skills, a chat room for caregivers, and Web-based information individually tailored to meet the self-identified needs of caregivers. The study also will examine if key processes and outcomes intended for the intervention vary by racial background.

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Contact: Lisa Lambert
Kent State University

 

 

Patient's Guide To Stroke Recovery Helps People Survive And Thrive After Stroke

Stroke Recovery Canada is thrilled to announce the availability of a new information resource for Canadians affected by stroke, A Patient's Guide to Stroke Recovery. The Guide, available just in time for Stroke Awareness Month in June[i] and World Stroke Day on June 24th, will help stroke survivors, their caregivers and families learn to survive and thrive after stroke.

"With more than 300,000 Canadians living with the effects of stroke, and 40,000 to 50,000 new strokes occurring each year, stroke rehabilitation has never been more important", says Kimberley Dowds, Associate Director of March of Dimes Canada, which operates Stroke Recovery Canada. "We all understand the benefits of preventing stroke, but equally important is helping patients recover. A Patient's Guide to Stroke Recovery is an excellent new resource that provides relevant and up-to-date information to help stroke survivors learn to live with the changes a stroke may bring."

A Patient's Guide to Stroke Recovery can be found in rehabilitation centres across Canada and on Stroke Recovery Canada's website, strokerecoverycanada.com.

The Guide offers practical information about living with the impact of stroke, and provides information on innovative stroke recovery services and programs including physical and occupational therapies and Conductive Education�.

It also includes a special medical feature on spasticity, a challenging condition experienced by many stroke survivors, but often not well understood. Spasticity is the inability of muscles to respond to the signals to relax, which can interfere with movement, balance and walking, and the ability to perform a range of daily activities. The condition can also cause pain.

"Reducing spasticity can have a huge impact on the lives of patients and caregivers, yet many stroke survivors remain untreated," explains Dr. Satyendra Sharma, physiatrist and director of a Toronto stroke rehabilitation and spasticity clinic. ''Several effective treatment approaches exist, including physical therapy and medical treatments, to help reduce disability, and promote more functional independence."

Reno Salvador, whose wife, Ellena suffered a severe stroke in 1975, contributed an article to the Guide that details both the challenges faced after stroke, and some of the newer treatments available. Shares Reno, "Two years after my wife's stroke, she developed spasticity, which caused her enormous pain and discomfort. Recently, along with Ellena's physiotherapy and other medications, we started using Botox injections, which have been very effective in improving the movement and reducing the pain in her right arm. I encourage people to be active in seeking help. We have been, and we have seen the benefits. My wife is living proof that there is life after stroke."

Overview of A Patient's Guide to Stroke Recovery Readers of the Guide will find information and tips on how to be a stroke thriver.

Following are highlights:

-- 30 Years of Stroke: A Caregiver's Story - how Reno Salvador has cared for his wife for 31 years, and how the couple has reinvented themselves to help others

-- Working with your Therapist - how physiotherapy and occupational therapy can help a stroke survivor regain important functional skills

-- Fighting Spasticity - a special medical feature by Dr. Satyendra Sharma and Montreal neurologist Dr. Louise Lafontaine

-- Conductive Education� - overview of an innovative learning program that combines elements of education and rehabilitation to help stroke survivors redevelop body awareness and balance

-- Services offered by Stroke Recovery Canada - including peer support, telephone couselling and more

-- Membership form - how to join Stroke Recovery Canada

Stroke Recovery Canada�

Stroke Recovery Canada�, a program of March of Dimes Canada, is a national service offering post-recovery support, education and programs for stroke survivors, their families and health care providers. Through its work with local peer support groups across the country, Stroke Recovery Canada� provides Canadians with the resources needed to help Canadians survive and thrive after stroke.
For information or to join Stroke Recovery Canada call 1-888-540-6666 or visit strokerecoverycanada.com

March of Dimes Canada�

March of Dimes Canada is a nationally registered charitable organization providing support services to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers across Canada. Find more information call 1-800-263-3463 or visit marchofdimescanada.ca

national.ca

[i]June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada, recognized by Health Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

 

Coping Resources Improve Quality Of Life For Caregivers Of Stroke Survivors

Coping ability is the most important influence on the quality of life for stroke caregivers. Investigators examined data collected at 1 and 6 months poststroke to determine the influence of stroke survivor and caregiver characteristics on quality of life (QOL) for stroke caregivers. At both time points, the most influential factor was sense of coherence (SOC). SOC is the caregiver's ability to mobilize coping resources during periods of stress. Caregivers who effectively mobilized these resources experienced less burden and fewer symptoms of depression.

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Highlight from JRRD pg. 747

Contact: Dr. Stacieann Yuhasz
yuhasz@vard.org
VA Research Communications Service

 

Stages Of Recovery Of Hand Muscle Control After A Stroke

A Queen's study of stroke survivors gives new insight into the stages of recovery of hand muscle control after a stroke, suggesting that patients may benefit from different treatment strategies at different times during the recovery process.

Further, there are different post-stroke patient "profiles" instead of a single common profile for recovery of hand muscle control, according to findings published in the most recent edition of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. This new discovery paves the way for more effective treatment for stroke survivors based on timing the treatment to the individual's recovery process.

"It is surprising how little is known about the process of physical recovery after stroke," says Brenda Brouwer, the lead researcher and a Rehabilitation Therapy professor. "This is the most comprehensive study we're aware of to date that looks at brain to muscle control outcomes and detailed hand function in stroke patients."

The study found that hand function is directly related to brain activity and that changes in the brain well after the stroke are paralleled by changes in physical ability. The less active the motor cortex -- the part of the brain controlling muscle function -- and the weaker the connections, the less able the stroke survivor is to use their hand muscles.

The findings offer insight into which of the measures currently used to evaluate signals from the brain to the muscle during stroke recovery are most strongly linked to muscle function and therefore which treatment strategies work best for particular patients at early and later stages of recovery.

Interventions including muscle vibration and electrical nerve stimulation in the limbs enhance the motor cortical output to target muscles; mental practice (patient's concentrating on moving the muscle) results in brain cells being more easily activated. With time, the cells in that part of the brain affected by the stroke progressively become more easily activated. The changes in the strength of the connections between the brain and muscles lead to improvements in the ability to use the muscles. "This is a good thing," says Brouwer, explaining that this indicates the circuitry responsible for mediating voluntary movement exists. "We can use this information to maximize a patient's recovery with ongoing therapy."

To examine hand muscle control, participants completed three tests including: tapping a single keyboard key with the index finger; picking up pegs one at a time and placing them into holes on a pegboard; and pushing with their index finger against a metal bar that measures force. Performance on these tests were linked to the ease with which brain cells that control muscle functions can be activated; how active the brain cells are at the time of testing; and the strength of the neural connections between the brain and the muscle.

The study was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Lorinda Peterson
lorinda.peterson@queensu.ca
Queen's University
http://www.queensu.ca

 

Research Shows Few Stroke Patients Receiving Optimal Care

Research by a Michigan State University epidemiologist finds that few acute-stroke patients are receiving care that is consistent with established guidelines.

The work of Mathew Reeves, an assistant professor in MSU's Department of Epidemiology, reveals that fewer than a quarter of patients arrive at an emergency room within three hours of the onset of symptoms, and that fewer than 5 percent of stroke patients eligible for clot-busting medication receive it.

Reeves' research is documented in the journal Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

"We're losing between 50 and 70 percent of patients right from the get-go because we don't know exactly when the stroke occurred," Reeves said. "If we don't know when a stroke occurred, then we are unable to give the patient the acute stroke therapies that are available."

Having patients arrive within three hours of having a stroke is critical, Reeves said, because this is the window of opportunity for treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke is caused by a clot in the arteries supplying blood to the brain.

"Overall, 75 to 80 percent of patients don't arrive within the three-hour window for treatment," Reeves said. "The data reaffirm that we need to do a lot more in terms of public education to improve recognition and response to the warning signs of stroke."

Reeves and his team gathered the data from the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry. The registry gathered information on more than 6,000 stroke admissions at 98 hospitals between October 2001 and November 2002. It was determined that between 50 percent and 70 percent of the patients had suffered an ischemic stroke.

Four states participated in the registry - Michigan, Ohio, Georgia and Massachusetts. The registry is named in honor of Paul Coverdell, a U.S. senator from Georgia who died of a stroke in 2000.

According to the data, of the 4,280 patients who had ischemic stroke, only 177, around 4 percent, received tPA. Across the four states, treatment rates ranged from 3 percent in Georgia to 8.5 percent in Massachusetts.

The analysis also revealed that many stroke patients did not receive recommended preventive care before leaving the hospital. Examples included cholesterol measurement, an evaluation for dysphagia or difficulty swallowing, and smoking-cessation counseling.

"For a stroke survivor who smokes, smoking cessation is the single best thing that can be done to reduce the risk of subsequent stroke," Reeves said.

Hospitals did better with respect to sending patients home on aspirin or other medications to prevent clot formation. Rates of antithrombotic therapy ranged between 87.7 percent and 97.7 percent. Of the patients with atrial fibrillation, a type of rapid heartbeat that increases the risk of stroke, between 64.1 percent and 91 percent received blood-thinning drugs to prevent clots.

Reeves' work was part of the Michigan Acute Stroke Care Overview and Treatment Surveillance System, or MASCOTS, a collaboration between MSU and 15 Michigan hospitals that is reviewing how stroke victims are cared for in Michigan.

For additional information on the project, visit the Web at http://www.epi.msu.edu/mascots

 

 

People who survive Hogkin disease during childhood at higher risk of strokes later in life

Patients surviving childhood Hodgkin disease suffer strokes later in life at rates about four times that of the general population, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

Principal investigator Dr. Daniel Bowers, assistant professor of pediatrics, and other UT Southwestern researchers identified the link using patient information from a national database of long-term childhood cancer survivors. The study, which appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, is available online.

"We were surprised. We knew there was increased risk of a second cancer - usually breast cancer - and increased risk of heart failure, but stroke was unexpected," said Dr. Bowers.

Although doctors cure about 70 percent of pediatric outpatients with cancer, little research had linked strokes later in life to cancer. Testing that hypothesis on all survivors of childhood cancer was too impractical, so the UT Southwestern research team narrowed the field to survivors of Hodgkin disease, a type of lymphoma that's the second-most common form of childhood cancer.

"The goals are changing to more than just curing the child of cancer," Dr. Bowers said. "They are to evaluate and reduce the long-term side effects. It's been well-established that childhood cancer survivors have several well-described long-term side effects, including second cancers, learning problems, growth problems and heart damage."

UT Southwestern is a member of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, a national consortium tracking the long-term effects of cancer survivors. Children's Medical Center Dallas is also a member and contributed patients to the study. The National Institutes of Health-sponsored study involves 27 institutes and the statistical histories of some 20,000 childhood cancer survivors.

From that database, researchers identified 1,926 people who had survived Hodgkin disease more than five years after being diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. Dr. Bowers and other researchers identified 24 Hodgkin disease survivors who later reported a stroke and compared that to the siblings of cancer survivors, where only nine of more than 3,800 had suffered strokes. The incidence of strokes - 83.6 per 100,000 person-years for Hodgkin disease survivors and 8.0 per 100,000 person-years for the control group - demonstrated that Hodgkin disease survivors were at significantly increased risk of suffering a stroke.

"With the high visibility of stories like Lance Armstrong, people think that if you're a cancer survivor you're cured, and you have no further problems, and you can go ride in the Tour de France," Dr. Bowers said. "And maybe that's true for some people. But we are clearly recognizing that cancer survivors have unique and long-term cancer-specific side effects. People are beginning to look at quality of life."

The UT Southwestern research may support other studies suggesting the need to reduce the amount of radiation used in treatments for Hodgkin disease, he said.

"The next generation of studies will be able to look at the question: Does a reduction in radiation dose cause a decrease in the frequency of stroke?" Dr. Bowers said. "It certainly would be a logical expectation, but we don't know that."

Other researchers involved in the study were senior author Dr. Kevin Oeffinger, a former family practice professor at UT Southwestern, now with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and researchers from UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Food and Drug Administration, the University of Minnesota, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., Stanford University School of Medicine, Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

The study was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Children's Cancer Research Fund.

Russell Rian
russell.rian@utsouthwestern.edu
UT Southwestern Medical Center
http://www.swmed.edu

 

Living Well: Health And Wellness Tips

The brain is an "amazing, resilient organ," much of which still remains a mystery to science. While the mysteries abound, most people have more control over how their brains function than they think, says Indiana University neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor.

"We have a lot more say about what's going on inside our brains than we were ever taught," she said. "The thoughts we focus on become more prevalent. If there are thoughts you don't want to think about anymore, then you can teach yourself to consciously choose to activate new thought patterns by coming back to the present moment."

Taylor has studied the brain in a way few others have. As she suffered a rare form of stroke 10 years ago, she was conscious as she lost the left half of her brain. She remembers the day clearly, when she eventually curled up into a ball and expected to die.

"I was shocked when I awoke later," said Taylor, who teaches neuroanatomy to medical students studying on the IU Bloomington campus. "I couldn't talk. I couldn't understand language. I lost all recollection of my life and lost all perception of my physical presence -- I was at one with the universe. By anyone's standard, I was completely disabled. I describe myself as an infant in a woman's body."

Taylor's new self-published book, "My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey," offers a message of hope. She said many neurologists will say the brain has only a short window, just six months, during which it can recover following a stroke. Taylor disagrees.

"I watched my brain grow, change and recover for eight years before I thought I was fully recovered," she said.

Below are some of Taylor's suggestions and observations for recovering from a stroke.

For the survivor:

-- Give it time -- more time than the experts say. The brain is constantly changing because it has a plasticity that lets its cells make new connections.

-- Honor the healing power of sleep. With a brain trauma, every moment is filled with millions of bits of information. Sleep, said Taylor, is when the brain organizes and files away this information, leaving people refreshed and ready to learn when they awake.

For caregivers:

-- Break every action down into little steps, otherwise the person recovering from the stroke could become discouraged by constant failure. Taylor uses the action of sitting up as an example. Instead of expecting someone who recovered from a stroke to sit up right away, begin with rocking -- and celebrate the rocking. When the survivor can rock with enthusiasm, begin working on a roll -- and celebrate the roll -- until eventually the person can progress to sitting up.

-- Constantly remind the survivor how far they have come. "Keep it in my face that I've made progress. You can't cheer enough." Taylor was not aware of her past during much of her recovery so she often was not aware of what she could and couldn't do -- achievements were news to her.

For everyone:

-- Remember that the survivor is wounded, not stupid, and treat her or him with respect.

-- When talking with a survivor, come close to them and speak slowly and clearly. There is no need to speak loudly, however.

-- Be as patient with the survivor on the 20th time you teach him something as you were the first time.

For more information about "My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey," visit, http://www.drjilltaylor.com. The book describes in lay terms the anatomy underlying her experience of stroke and her commitment during the next eight years to rebuild the left side of her brain, all from her perspective of a curious scientist who considers her stroke a blessing.

"How many brain scientists have been able to study the brain from the inside out? I've gotten as much out of this experience of losing my left mind as I have in my entire academic career," Taylor said.

To read a more about Taylor's experience, visit http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/4481.html.

GOT CHUBBY KIDS?

A recent national Institute of Medicine report said that one third of American children and youth are obese, or are at risk of becoming obese. Parents cannot always tell just by looking at their children, however, if they are overweight. Children, like adults, come in all different shapes and sizes. That paunch, says Alice Lindeman, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science, could be a sign that a child needs to lose some weight or that a growth spurt is just around the corner.

"They get tired, they get cranky, they get these little paunches, and then they grow," she said.

Pediatricians track children's growth from birth and can help parents recognize whether their children are overweight or anticipating a growth spurt. Lindeman said the combined approach of increasing activity levels and creating a healthier lifestyle is the best way to help overweight children achieve a healthy weight, but it also means the child won't be going it alone. Healthy eating habits and other lifestyle changes should be adopted by the whole family to be effective.

"Don't tell them to be active and then sit and read a book, that's not right," Lindeman said. "Get up and play with them."

Lindeman offers the following suggestions:

-- Mirror each other's behavior. Don't tell your child, for example, that she can eat only six M&Ms while you munch on 60. "If you don't want them to go back for seconds, you shouldn't go back for seconds," Lindeman said.

-- Create an environment that applies to everyone in the family and maintains a healthy lifestyle for all. This will help prevent any one child from feeling singled out.

-- Teens get at least 25 percent of their calories from snacks and possibly as much as 50 percent. Lindeman says snacks should include two food groups, not just one, to provide more balanced nutrition. "If you're going to have pretzels, how about some peanut better? If you're sensitive about glucose fluctuations, including protein in your snack, with such foods as yogurt, milk or lunch meat, can help keep glucose levels from jumping," she said. Meals should include three food groups.

Talk to your children about hunger -- are they really hungry for seconds?

Parents should put the child's food on the plate so they can control the serving sizes.

Eat at the table, not in front of the TV or standing. Take time to eat slowly, rather than wolfing down meals. Children can make a game out of eating slowly. They can, for example, eat a cookie in circles, taking tiny bites.

Some structured diets, such as Weight Watchers, have children's versions. Lindeman said parents should talk with their child's pediatrician before starting them on such diets.

SUICIDE MYTHS AND FACTS

Suicide may be a taboo topic, but it ranks 11th among causes of death in the United States, accounting for more than 31,000 deaths each year. John McIntosh, a professor of psychology at IU South Bend and an expert in suicide prevention, said that many common assumptions about suicide are inaccurate, including how often it occurs, who dies of suicide, signs of risk for suicidal behavior, and the myth of the suicide note.

-- Not so rare. Suicide is nearly twice as common as homicide, killing one person every 16.7 minutes in the U.S. It is the third leading cause of death among young people. McIntosh estimates, based on an average of six people being closely connected to the victim, over 4.5 million people in the U.S. (1 in 65) have lost a loved one to suicide.

-- Old, not young, and men, not women, make up the greatest numbers. Although suicide ranks higher as a cause of death for young people, the number of older adults who die from suicide is significantly higher than the number of young people who kill themselves. According to the latest data, adults over age 65 accounted for 16.7 percent of suicides in the U.S. whereas young people aged 15 to 24 accounted for 12.7 percent, even though older adults represented a smaller portion of the population. With respect to gender, there were four male deaths by suicide for every female death. However, women are more likely to attempt suicide than men.

-- Talk of suicide is serious business. "When people talk about suicide, it's often dismissed," McIntosh said. "Many people seem to think that if someone is talking about the idea, then they are not seriously contemplating it, but really it is the opposite. That is the most common sign that someone is actually at risk. The worst thing you can do is to ignore it or to call their bluff. Instead you should call a prevention professional -- one free hotline is 1-800-273-TALK -- and they can give you some suggestions and refer you to the nearest certified crisis center." Other signs of risk include substance abuse, withdrawing from friends and family, recklessness, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. * No explanation. "Suicide notes are found in only 25 percent of cases. Even when there is a note, it is almost never revealing or informative," McIntosh said. "The note might say, 'I love you' or where to find a bank account, but it typically does not give an explanation for why the person did this. There are few insights into their psyche."

McIntosh said the effects on surviving friends and family members are similar to those coping with the murder of a loved one, like the shock of sudden loss, searching for answers, and feelings of anger and guilt. With suicide, he said, people also struggle with social isolation due to negative stigma. He advised that the best way to support someone who has lost a loved one to suicide is to give them the same kindness and caring you would offer in any other bereavement.

"Tell them you are sorry for their loss, give them instrumental support with their daily needs, and don't dwell exclusively on the way that their loved one died. Recognize that they may feel very sensitive about the circumstances and try to avoid platitudes like, 'I know how you feel,' if you haven't experienced the same situation," he said.

ENGRAVED IN CYBERSPACE?

Teens need to think before they post. For today's teens, getting their first personal laptop or computer has joined the driver's license and the first kiss as a new rite of passage. As teens boot up their new Christmas booty, parents need to talk with their kids about the need to be sensible online, not just safe, says Gregory Travis, a technology expert with Indiana University Bloomington's Pervasive Technology Labs' Advanced Network Management Lab.

"Parents need to encourage kids to think about their future ambitions and help them understand that there is no such thing as online privacy," Travis said. "The Internet is a public space -- and it doesn't forget. Lots of good kids probably never consider future consequences of what they put online today. It's up to adults to teach kids to think before they post."

Travis offers these tips:

Teens may believe information they remove from personal pages, blogs and social networking sites like Myspace or Facebook is gone, but with archiving Web sites like http://www.archive.org/index.php and cached or past versions of Web sites being easier than ever to access, there is a good chance the "erased" version is still available. This means teens should think twice before griping about their teacher, making insulting or inflammatory statements, or sharing potentially embarrassing information and photos. "Before they start typing, kids need to ask themselves 'What kind of impression will this give to give the admissions officer at my favorite college? Is this really what I want my future employer to think of me?'" Travis added. According to a recent poll reported in the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2006 NACE Journal, 50 percent of employers currently use online technology to research the background of potential employees during the job search process and 7 percent more plan to start.

Never give personal information to online friends. Personal information includes your name, messenger ID, e-mail address, school name, phone numbers, home address, and pictures of you, your family or friends.

If you publish a photo or video online, be aware that anyone can change it or share it.

Never say or do anything online that you wouldn't ordinarily share with parents, friends, teachers or employers.

Some people don't tell the truth online. What you see may not be what you get.

Never arrange to meet someone you've met online without a trusted adult.

Never respond to e-mail or chat that makes you uncomfortable. Tell an adult about inappropriate Internet material or activity.

Indiana University
530 East Kirkwood Ave., Ste 203
Bloomington, IN 47408-4003
United States
http://www.indiana.edu/

 

Childhood Cancer Survivors Face More Long Term Health Risks

An adult who survived cancer during his/her childhood is three times as likely to experience long-term chronic illness than an adult who never had cancer, say researchers from the USA. The researchers found that adult childhood cancer survivors had an eight-fold higher risk of eventually having a life-threatening or severe illness than an adult who never had cancer.

You can read about this study in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

As new therapies appear, childhood cancer patients now have a 80% chance of surviving and recovering.

The scientists examined data on 10,397 adults who had had cancer when they were children (between 1970 - 1986). They also examined data on 3,034 of these childhood cancer survivors' siblings - none of which had had cancer when they were children.

They found that adult childhood cancer survivors were much more likely to have a second cancer, heart problems, kidney disease, osteoporosis, musculoskeletal problems and fertility problems, when compared to their siblings. The highest risks were among survivors of bone tumors, CNS tumours and Hodgkin's disease. Female childhood cancer survivors were at greater risk of long-term health problems than male childhood cancer survivors, said the researchers.

The scientists found that:

-- 62.3% of the childhood cancer survivors went on to have at least one chronic condition
-- 27.5% of the childhood cancer survivors went on to have a severe or life-threatening condition

As these adults had survived childhood cancers during the 1970s and 1980s, the authors of the study believe children currently being treated for cancer will face lower risks. This is because current cancer treatments are different.

"Chronic Health Conditions in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer"
Kevin C. Oeffinger, M.D., Ann C. Mertens, Ph.D., Charles A. Sklar, M.D., Toana Kawashima, M.S., Melissa M. Hudson, M.D., Anna T. Meadows, M.D., Debra L. Friedman, M.D., Neyssa Marina, M.D., Wendy Hobbie, C.P.N.P., Nina S. Kadan-Lottick, M.D., Cindy L. Schwartz, M.D., Wendy Leisenring, Sc.D., Leslie L. Robison, Ph.D., for the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
NEJM Volume 355:1572-1582 October 12, 2006 Number 15
Click here to view abstract online

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

 

 

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