Survivors

TWO-EDGED SWORD

There is a dark side to conventional cancer treatments that casts a shadow over the future of the survivor. The two-edged sword of survivorship is the significant risk of developing chronic or life-threatening health problems that last a lifetime, including a second cancer. The medical establishment expects that the cancer patient should be able to get on with life after the treatments, but too often the family is puzzled and anxious when the child or teen or young adult develops a new complication - either physical, emotional or cognitive - magnified by their toxic treatments. These are known as late effects because they occur after the five-year survival mark and some may not show up for years.

NEW CHALLENGES

The good news is that more children are surviving cancer. While the completion of treatments is a time to celebrate, survival also comes with a price because the child will never be the same, and the future brings new challenges.

Doctors agree that toxic chemo drugs, radiation, and steroid drugs used in the typical cancer treatment, compromise the immune system, leaving the patient more susceptible to health problems after their cancer is considered in remission. Because they occur after the five-year survival mark, they are known as “late effects.”

The majority of kids and teens will face a significant risk of developing chronic or life-threatening health problems that may last for the rest of their lives. They may also develop a second, more aggressive cancer.

Surviving and Thriving

Children Against Cancer is dedicated to helping kids and teens do more than survive. We want them to also thrive.

We encourage the child’s family to help reduce future risks and enhance their chances of survival by choosing an organic diet rich in a variety of wholesome superfoods and nutrients that fortify the child’s immune system.

They should also be encouraged to greatly reduce or eliminate sugar and sweets because sugar is known to feed rogue cells. High quality vitamin supplements should be added to their daily routine, and plenty of sleep, fresh air, exercise, sunshine, pure water, and avoiding chemicals. Survivors should also be encouraged to never smoke and avoid second-hand smoke, alcohol and drugs.

LATE EFFECTS

Some children suffer emotional problems that may include anxiety, fear, trouble sleeping, depression, moods or anger.

Physical late effects include weakness, damage to the heart, lungs, vision, hearing, digestive system, growth, bone formation, problems with changes in hormone levels that affect puberty, the reproductive system, and infertility. And they may have a shortened lifespan.

Mental late effects may include changes in the child having difficulty with brain function, learning, thinking, memory, paying attention, confusion, and frustration.

Families are asked to gather all the written medical history of diagnosis and treatments for their child, and they will be advised to follow up with routine medical exams and tests by a physician. Depending on the type of late effects, the child may need to meet with specialists to help them manage the lasting effects of conventional treatments.

YEARS OF STUDIES REVEAL RISKS

Survivors of childhood cancers have a nine-fold increased risk of developing a secondary sarcoma (cancer), compared with the general population. Radiation and chemo drugs are the causes. ~Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Children and adolescents who survive cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease as young adults. They face a variety of complications related to toxic cancer treatments that include heart failure, heart attacks, and heart valve abnormalities – as late as 30 years after therapy. ~ British Medical Journal

There is considerable evidence of adverse late effects, including lower intelligence testing scores that may impact the childhood cancer survivor’s educational performance.

~ Science Daily Health

Radiation increases the risk of second primary tumors in the brain and spinal column for childhood cancer survivors.

~ Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Childhood cancer survivors treated for brain tumors are two to three times more likely to suffer stroke later in life. Those treated for leukemia have 15 times more risk of stroke.

~ UT Southwestern Medical Center Study

Fatigue, pain, and sleep problems dramatically reduce the thinking and abilities of adults who survive childhood cancer. They are particularly vulnerable to impaired memory, emotional control, organization and related cognitive skills. These problems significantly affect a survivor’s life and make it less likely they will hold a job, marry, or form other social connections. ~ St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

Those who survive brain tumors were more likely to never marry. Survivors of leukemia, and central nervous system cancers had the greatest likelihood to never marry.

~ Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

Women who survived childhood cancer are more likely to face particular risks for pregnancy. Women treated with abdominal radiation delivered more premature babies, and also more likely to suffer premature menopause before age 40. Risk factors were caused by radiation to the abdomen and certain chemo drugs. ~ Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Radiation treatments to the head can cause the female childhood cancer patient’s hypothalamus to reduce the production of hormones important for promoting ovulation.

~ ScienceDaily Health

Many childhood cancer survivors struggle to fully participate in our society because of the lasting cognitive or physical effects of their past cancer treatments that cause: short stature, poor physical functioning, and cognitive problems, cause by toxic cures. ~ American Association for Cancer Research

Childhood cancer survivors of leukemia, brain, or other central nervous system cancers achieve lower-than-expected educational success. Significantly, those who had radiation performed worse than the general population.

~ Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Despite exaggerated claims of making steady advances with vague promises of better treatments through new drugs or targeted radiation, cancer remains the seemingly invincible killer disease.

“It is clear that the complications, known and unknown, that will develop in survivors can demand a level of knowledge that is beyond the range of the general internist or family doctor, or even of medical oncologists.” ~ Philip Rosoff, M.D.

Children Against Cancer is dedicated to helping children and teens do more than survive. We want them to also thrive. Your generous donations make a difference.

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Please note: This website is intended for informational purposes only and is not the practice of medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Children Against Cancer assumes no liability or responsibility for the accuracy of information provided by health experts or how it is used. If you have health questions, please consult a qualified physician. Thank you.