Life partnerships in childhood cancer survivors, their siblings, and the general population

Abstract Purpose: Childhood cancer survivors fear that previous therapy could not only impair their own but also their children’s health. We examined whether health-related behaviour in children of childhood cancer survivors differs from the general population. Methods: Our first nationwide survey wave (2013–2014) surveyed offspring health in 396 German childhood cancer survivors known to have a child of their own. Answers about health behaviour were analysed using descriptive statistics. Data were collected for 418 offspring and 394 could be integrated for matched-pair analyses with data from the German general population (KIGGS, n=17 641). Results: Teeth-cleaning routine, body-mass-index or subjective body image evaluation by parents were no different from children in the general population. Parents who included a cancer survivor smoked less in the presence of their children (p=0.01). During pregnancy, mothers in cancer survivor parent pairs abstained from drinking alcohol more often (p=0.01) and smoked less (p=0.05). While the calculated effect sizes (Phi) were generally low (0.135–0.247), children from cancer survivors played less outdoors than peers did (p=0.01). Boys participated in sports outside a club more often (p=0.05) and watched less TV on weekdays (p=0.01) and girls spent more time on the computer during weekdays than peers did (p=0.01). Conclusions: This study provides the first data for health-related behaviour in cancer survivors’ offspring and sheds light on differences to parenting in the general population. Multivariate analyses in a larger study population are needed to relate these differences to fear issues in cancer survivors.

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Parenting in the face of serious illness: Childhood cancer survivors remember different rearing behavior than the general population

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.5138 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (8) ◽

pp. 1663-1670 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mareike Ernst ◽

Elmar Brähler ◽

Eva M. Klein ◽

Claus Jünger ◽

Philipp S. Wild ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Serious Illness ◽

The Face

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Vaccinations and Screening Examinations – Prevention Awareness Among Children of Childhood Cancer Survivors in Germany

Klinische Pädiatrie ◽

10.1055/a-1114-6350 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 232 (03) ◽

pp. 143-150

Author(s):

Theresa Schuster ◽

Anja Borgmann-Staudt ◽

Charlotte Jessica König ◽

Greta Sommerhäuser ◽

Elisabeth Korte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Age Groups ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Matched Pair ◽

Robert Koch Institute ◽

Preventive Screening ◽

Cancer History ◽

Kiggs Study

Abstract Background Immunisation levels and attendance of preventive screening examinations indicate primary health prevention awareness. We investigated participation among German childhood cancer survivors’ (CCS’) offspring in our national offspring study. Patients and methods CCS with biological children were surveyed on their offspring’s vaccination levels and attendance of preventive screening examinations by questionnaire. Data from the German general population was available for matched-pair analysis (KiGGS study, Robert Koch-Institute, n=17,641). Results Overall, 852/1,299 (65,6%) CCS completed 1,340 questionnaires regarding their childrenʼs health. In comparison with the general population, coverage of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis inoculations were similar (tetanus 99,1 vs. 98,4%). Measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations were carried out significantly more often by CCS’ offspring (rubella 96,1 vs. 91,7%). Throughout all age groups, preventive screening examinations were attended significantly more often by CCS’ offspring. Parentʼs anxiety regarding their offspring’s health was identified to be a confounding variable for vaccination rates. Discussion and conclusion CCS’ offspring showed comparable to significantly higher participation levels of recommended vaccinations and screening examinations than their peers from the German general population. In contrast to the general population the attendance of CCS’ offspring did not decrease with rising age. CCS’ own experiences and increased worry about their children’s health may lead to a higher prevention awareness. This should be considered in counselling parents with a cancer history.

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Alcohol consumption patterns and risk factors among childhood cancer survivors compared to siblings and general population peers

Addiction ◽

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02242.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 103 (7) ◽

pp. 1139-1148 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

E. Anne Lown ◽

Robert Goldsby ◽

Ann C. Mertens ◽

Thomas Greenfield ◽

Jason Bond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Consumption Patterns

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Educational achievement in Swiss childhood cancer survivors compared with the general population

Cancer ◽

10.1002/cncr.26418 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (5) ◽

pp. 1439-1449 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Claudia E. Kuehni ◽

Marie-Pierre F. Strippoli ◽

Corina S. Rueegg ◽

Cornelia E. Rebholz ◽

Eva Bergstraesser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Educational Achievement ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors

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A Population-Based Study of COVID-19 Infection Among Childhood Cancer Survivors

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.718316 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Agha ◽

Felicia Leung ◽

Rahim Moineddin ◽

Nicole M. Bradley ◽

Paul J. Gibson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Similar Rate ◽

Population Based ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Data Rates

Childhood cancer survivors are known to be at risk of chronic co-morbidities, although their risk of COVID-19 infection remains uncertain. Understanding the risk of COVID-19 in this population is necessary to counsel survivors and inform potential mitigation strategies. The objective of this study was to determine whether the rates of COVID-19 infection differed between childhood cancer survivors and the general population. Administrative health care data from a population-based registry of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in Ontario, Canada, were linked with a universal health insurance registry and a repository of laboratory data. Rates of COVID-19 testing, test positivity and infection between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 among childhood cancer survivors (n = 10 242) were compared to matched controls from the general population (n = 49 068). Compared to the general population, childhood cancer survivors were more likely to have COVID-19 testing (35.9% [95% CI, 34.5–37.4%] vs. 32.0% [95% CI, 31.4–32.6%]), but had a lower likelihood of positive COVID-19 result among those tested (4.3% [95% CI, 3.6–4.9%] vs. 5.5% [95% CI, 5.1–5.8%]) and a similar rate of infection among all subjects at risk (1.5% [95% CI, 1.3–1.8%] vs. 1.7% [95% CI, 1.6–1.9%]). These findings can inform counseling of survivors and clinician recommendations for this population.

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Perceptions and knowledge of air pollution and its health effects among caregivers of childhood cancer survivors: a qualitative study

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08739-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Austin R. Waters ◽

Echo L. Warner ◽

Perla L. Vaca Lopez ◽

Anne C. Kirchhoff ◽

Judy Y. Ou

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Health Effects ◽

Cancer Survivor ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Exposure Reduction ◽

Negative Perceptions

Abstract Background Emerging research suggests that survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers are at risk for morbidity and mortality associated with air pollutants. However, caregiver perceptions of the effects of air pollution are unknown. Thus, to address this gap we described caregivers’ perceptions of air pollution’s impact on general population health and specifically on childhood cancer survivors, and caregivers’ air pollution information-seeking and exposure reduction behaviors. Methods Participants were Utah residents, ≥18 years, and caregiver of a childhood cancer survivor who had completed treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers to describe their perspectives on air quality, how air pollution impacts health (general population and survivor health), and their information seeking and exposure reduction behaviors. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through two rounds of structured coding. Results Caregivers (N = 13) were non-Hispanic white and primarily females (92.3%) between 30 and 49 years old (46.2%). Most families lived within the Wasatch Front (69.2%), the main metropolitan of Utah. Two categories emerged pertaining to caregiver’s perceptions of air pollution: 1) Limited awareness about the health effects of air pollution, and 2) Unsuccessful information seeking and minimal exposure reduction behaviors. All caregivers held negative perceptions of air pollution in Utah, but most were unaware of how pollution affects health. While some families limited air pollution exposure by avoiding outdoor activity or physically leaving the region, few practiced survivor-specific exposure reduction. Nearly half of caregivers worried about potential effects of air pollution on survivor health and wanted more information. Conclusions Despite negative perceptions of air pollution, caregivers were divided on whether air pollution could impact survivor health. Few caregivers engaged in exposure reduction for their cancer survivor. As air pollution levels increase in the U.S., continued research on this topic is essential to managing cancer survivor respiratory and cardiovascular health.

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Long-term cardiovascular disease mortality among 160 834 5-year survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer: an American population-based cohort study

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa779 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lai Wang ◽

Fengjiao Wang ◽

Lianyu Chen ◽

Yawen Geng ◽

Shulin Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

General Population ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Adolescent And Young Adult ◽

Cns Tumours ◽

Cvd Mortality

Abstract Aims Our aim was to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in US 5-year survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer compared with those of the general population and contemporaneous 5-year survivors of childhood cancer. Methods and results A total of 160 834 5-year AYA cancer survivors (aged 15–39 years at diagnosis) were included, representing 2 239 390 person-years of follow-up. Overall, 2910 CVD deaths occurred, which was 1.4-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–1.4] that expected in the general population, corresponding to 3.6 (95% CI 3.2–3.9) excess CVD deaths per 10 000 person-years. The highest risk of cardiac mortality was experienced after Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), and the highest risk of cerebrovascular mortality was observed with central nervous system (CNS) tumours. Even survivors in their 6th and 7th decades of life, the risk of CVD mortality remained markedly higher than that of the matched general population. Competing risk analysis showed that the cumulative mortality of CVD was elevated among AYA cancer survivors compared with childhood cancer survivors during the whole study period. Conclusion Long-term AYA cancer survivors have a greater risk of CVD mortality than the US general population and childhood cancer survivors. Vulnerable subgroups, especially survivors of HL and CNS tumours, require continued close follow-up care for cardiovascular conditions throughout survivorship.

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