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

BMC Cancer ◽  
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.

Health-Related Behaviour Among Children of Childhood Cancer Survivors in Germany

2016 ◽  
Vol 229 (03) ◽  
pp. 118-125
Author(s):  
M. Balcerek ◽  
T. Schuster ◽  
E. Korte ◽  
J. Seidel ◽  
R. Schilling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivor ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
Calculated Effect ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Related Behaviour

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.

scholarly journals Mortality After Breast Cancer Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (24) ◽  
pp. 2120-2130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya S. Moskowitz ◽  
Joanne F. Chou ◽  
Joseph P. Neglia ◽  
Ann H. Partridge ◽  
Rebecca M. Howell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivor ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivor ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivor Study ◽  
Survivors Of Childhood Cancer

PURPOSE Female survivors of childhood cancer have a high risk of subsequent breast cancer. We describe the ensuing risk for mortality and additional breast cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS Female participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, a cohort of 5-year survivors of cancer diagnosed between 1970 and 1986 before age 21 years, and subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 274; median age at breast cancer diagnosis, 38 years; range, 20 to 58 years) were matched to a control group (n = 1,095) with de novo breast cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated from cause-specific proportional hazards models. RESULTS Ninety-two childhood cancer survivors died, 49 as a result of breast cancer. Overall survival after breast cancer was 73% by 10 years. Subsequent risk of death as a result of any cause was higher among childhood cancer survivors than among controls (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.7 to 3.0) and remained elevated after adjusting for breast cancer treatment (HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7 to 3.2). Although breast cancer–specific mortality was modestly elevated among childhood cancer survivors (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9 to 2.0), survivors were five times more likely to die as a result of other health-related causes, including other subsequent malignant neoplasms and cardiovascular or pulmonary disease (HR, 5.5; 95% CI, 3.4 to 9.0). The cumulative incidence of a second asynchronous breast cancer also was elevated significantly compared with controls ( P < .001). CONCLUSION Mortality after breast cancer was higher in childhood cancer survivors than in women with de novo breast cancer. This increased mortality reflects the burden of comorbidity and highlights the need for risk-reducing interventions.

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

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Wengenroth ◽  
C.S. Rueegg ◽  
G. Michel ◽  
S. Essig ◽  
R.A. Ammann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors

Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. CRA10002-CRA10002
Author(s):  
M. Stuber ◽  
K. Meeske ◽  
B. Zebrack ◽  
K. Krull ◽  
K. Stratton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Cancer Survivor ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivor ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

CRA10002 Background: This study examined prevalence and demographic- and disease-related correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 6,542 adult childhood cancer survivors and 368 siblings from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Methods: Subjects were dichotomized based on full PTSD criteria, using the Foa PTSD self-report measure to assess posttraumatic stress symptoms of intrusion of unwanted memories, avoidance of event reminders, and increased startle response, and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 and the SF-36 subscale, role limitation due to emotional health, to evaluate clinical distress or impaired function. A self-report questionnaire provided demographic information and medical abstraction provided cancer reatment data. Multivariable generalized linear models were used to compare prevalence of PTSD among cancer survivors to siblings and to examine relationships between PTSD and demographic and disease-related factors. Relative risks (RR) were calculated based on a Poisson distribution with robust error variances. Results: Five hundred eighty-nine (9%) childhood cancer survivors and 8 (2%) siblings met criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD (RR = 3.83, 95% CI 1.96–7.48, p < 0.0001). Among cancer survivors, there was significantly more PTSD reported by women from minority backgrounds (p < 0.05). Other demographic factors associated with PTSD were having less than a college education (p < 0.05), being unmarried (p < 0.001), having an annual income less than $20,000 (p < 0.05) and being unemployed (p = 0.001). Risk of PTSD was significantly higher for survivors diagnosed at ages 15 to 20 years (p < 0.05). PTSD was more common among survivors treated with intensive chemotherapy (p < 0.05) or radiation therapy (p < 0.001) and who relapsed or developed a second malignant neoplasm (p < 0.001). Neuroblastoma and Wilms tumor survivors had a significantly lower risk of PTSD than did leukemia survivors (p < 0.05). Conclusions: While the majority of childhood cancer survivors did not demonstrate PTSD, a clinically significant number did meet diagnostic criteria. Prospective assessment of survivors with high risk demographic-, diagnosis-, and treatment-related characteristics should be considered as part of long-term health screening. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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