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Childhood cancer treatments can affect the daily life of adult survivors

 

Late effects from CNS treatments can affect independence

Woman on phone in car

Childhood cancer treatments given to the CNS (central nervous system, or brain and spinal cord) can affect a survivor’s independence in adulthood.

Researchers compared the daily function of 7,781 adult cancer survivors who had CNS treatment as children to 8,309 people who were either survivors not treated with CNS therapy or were siblings of survivors. The researchers used 6 ways to measure how the cancer survivors’ lives were affected:

  • Whether the survivors lived alone, with their parents or caregivers, or with a spouse and children
  • If they were able to stay employed or go to school
  • If they needed help with daily and personal care
  • If they had a driver’s license and were able to drive
  • If they had ever been married, lived with a partner, or had a relationship

The cancer survivors in this study were treated with radiation therapy targeting the brain and/or with the injection of the chemotherapy drug methotrexate as children. This study showed 3 levels of independence for cancer survivors who had CNS treatment as children:

  • Moderately independent, never married, did not live independently (78.7%)
  • Moderately independent but not able to drive (15.6%)
  • Not independent (5%): could not work, attend school, or drive. They needed help with daily and personal care needs and had no history of marriage or living with a partner.

In comparison, half (50%) of the survivors without CNS treatment and 60% of their siblings were fully independent.

Survivors who had CNS treatment had more serious neurological problems like strokes, seizures, headaches, problems in a specific area of the body, and issues with vision, hearing, and balance. These physical problems were linked to emotional and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Taken together, these challenges made it harder for these cancer survivors to live independently.

What does this mean for you?

If you are a childhood cancer survivor and you received CNS treatments, be aware of how late effects from treatment could affect your daily life. Here are some things you can do to manage these effects:

  • Talk to your care team about any physical, emotional, or mental issues you have that affect your daily functioning.
  • Ask your care team if these problems could be related to your past treatments.
  • Ask your care team for help if you struggle with daily tasks and independence. They can help you get the support you need, such as rehabilitation services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health screening.
  • Be aware of your emotional well-being, learn when to seek help, and reach out to a health care professional if needed.
  • If you have thoughts about ending your life:
    • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 right away. There is no fee for calling and they will keep your information private. You can also call or text 988.
    • You can also call your primary care doctor or mental health provider.

For more information, visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention page.

Reference

Vuotto SC, Wang M, Okcu MF, Bowers DC, Ullrich NJ, Ness KK, Li C, Srivastava DK, Howell RM, Gibson TM, Leisenring WM, Oeffinger KC, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Krull KR, Brinkman TM. Neurologic morbidity and functional independence in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2024 Feb;11(2):291-301.

Read the paper