A Model of Care for Childhood Cancer Survivors That Facilitates Research

Abstract

The majority of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer will achieve long-term survival after contemporary therapy. Consequent to this success are challenges inherent in coordinating lifelong health care for a group predisposed to a variety of cancer-related complications. With increasing numbers of aging adult survivors of childhood cancer, clinicians now face the additional challenge of studying delayed effects of childhood cancer in the context of organ senescence. Clinicians must also address the transition of survivor health care from the pediatric oncology setting to the adult community. Salient issues influencing health care of long-term childhood cancer survivors are summarized, and a model for monitoring late treatment effects used at a pediatric cancer facility is presented. This model is remarkable for its ability to enhance optimal delivery of long-term survivor care, facilitate the transition of survivor care from the pediatric treatment center to community providers, and support investigations of late cancer-related morbidity and mortality.