Cancer screening in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)
CRA6501 Background: Childhood cancer survivors may develop a second malignant neoplasm (SMN) and require surveillance to detect new cancers. Methods: We surveyed survivors and siblings from the CCSS, a cohort study of patients who have survived ≥5 years after a diagnosis of childhood cancer from 1970–86. We assessed compliance with the American Cancer Society's (ACS) guidelines for surveillance mammography, colonoscopy and PAP smears, and compared them to a matched population comparison group drawn from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey. Further, we examined compliance with the Children's Oncology Group (COG) guidelines for more frequent colonoscopy, mammography and skin exams in survivors at high risk for cancers of the colon (≥30 Gy pelvic, abdominal or spinal radiation), breast (≥ 20 Gy breast radiation in females) or skin (any radiation). Proportions screened were compared between groups with adjusted generalized estimating equations or log-binomial regression models. Results: There were 8318 survivors (50.6% male, mean age at interview 31.2 ± 7.3 years), 2661 siblings and 8318 population controls. 141/829 (17.6%), 592/855 (70.4%) and 3362/3690 (92.6%) eligible survivors reported a colonoscopy, mammogram, or PAP smear per ACS guidelines. Survivors were less likely than siblings (odds ratio [OR] 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18–0.49) and population controls (OR 0.63; CI 0.50–0.80) to have a colonoscopy, and less likely than siblings to have a PAP smear (risk ratio [RR] 0.98; CI 0.97–0.99). However, they were more likely than siblings (RR 1.14; CI 1.03–1.27) and population controls (RR 1.05; CI 1.01–1.10) to have a mammogram. Among survivors at increased risk for a SMN, only 92/809 (11.4%) reported a colonoscopy within the COG recommended 5-year period, 164/537 (30.5%) reported a mammogram within a 1-year period and 1288/4833 (26.7%) reported a skin exam. Care at a cancer center was associated with mammography (RR 1.91; 95% CI 1.02–1.27) and skin exam (RR 1.55; 95% CI 1.22–196) in high-risk patients. Conclusions: Childhood cancer survivors are not screened adequately for SMNs. Surveillance is very poor amongst those at highest risk for colon, breast, or skin cancer. Survivors and their physicians need education about the importance of surveillance. No significant financial relationships to disclose.