Long-Term Effects of Cancer Treatment

Survivors of childhood cancer face multiple long-term health issues. Endocrine-specific disorders are highly prevalent in survivors of childhood cancer and this risk persists decades after diagnosis. The increased risk of long-term endocrine disorders may be attributable to disease-specific alterations in endocrine function or due to adverse effects of treatment with radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy. Long-term monitoring of health outcomes is critical to diagnose and treat endocrine disorders including hypothalamic/pituitary hormone deficiencies, growth abnormalities, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Access to long-term care remains challenging for survivors of childhood cancer, but standardization of long-term follow-up and the use of patient-facing digital health interventions may offer novel ways to improve health behaviors and outcomes.