Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2122964 | European Journal of Cancer | 2011 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
In the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, we aimed to assess the proportion of long-term survivors attending follow-up care, to characterise attendees and to describe the health professionals involved. We sent a questionnaire to 1252 patients, of whom 985 (79%) responded, aged in average 27Â years (range 20-49). Overall, 183 (19%) reported regular, 405 (41%) irregular and 394 (40%) no follow-up. For 344, severity of late effects had been classified in a previous medical examination. Only 17% and 32% of survivors with moderate and severe late effects respectively had made regular visits a decade later. Female gender, after a shorter time since diagnosis, had radiotherapy, and having suffered a relapse predicted follow-up. In the past year, 8% had seen a general practitioner only, 10% a paediatric or adult oncologist and 16% other health specialists for a cancer related problem. These findings underline the necessity to implement tailored national follow-up programmes.
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Authors
Cornelia E. Rebholz, Nicolas X. von der Weid, Gisela Michel, Felix K. Niggli, Claudia E. Kuehni, for the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) for the Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group (SPOG),