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Abstract Cancer and its treatment may result in a variety of physical and psychosocial effects that predispose childhood cancer survivors to excess morbidity and early mortality when compared with the general population. Virtually every organ system can be affected by the chemotherapy, radiation,and/or surgery required to achieve cure of pediatric malignancies. The success of curative therapy may be the bittersweet for many who struggle with late-occurring chronic health issues resulting from the cancer or its therapy. Approximately 75% of adults surviving pediatric cancer will develop at least one chronic health problem by 40 years of age. This study included 30 survivors of childhood cancer aging 6 - 18 years (mean age 11.7 ± 3.02 years) they were 12 males (40%) and 18 females (60%). Survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were 18 cases (60%), Hodgkin lymphoma survivors were 6 cases (20%) and survivors of Wilms’ tumor were 6 cases (20%). Our survivors were recruited from the Long Term Cancer Survivors Clinic (LTCSC), Hematology and Oncology Department, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University during the period from June 2009 to August 2011. All patients were in remission and off chemotherapy for at least 1 year and relapse - free prior to the evaluation. All our cases were subjected to the followings; І) Revision of patients’ files was done. ІІ) Late effects surveillance plan. ІІІ) Patients & caregivers interview. The included 30 cases were of 3 groups: - Group A [ALL Survivors Group] (n=18): survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). - Group B [HL Survivors Group] (n=6): survivors of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). - Group C [WT Survivors Group] (n=6): survivors of Wilm’s tumor. Cases of group A [ALL Survivors] and B [HL Survivors] had significant higher mean disease duration when compared to cases of group C [WT Survivors]. A statistically significant higher mean cure duration in cases of group C [WT Survivors] and B [HL Survivors] when compared to cases of group A [ALL Survivors]. Cases of group A [ALL Survivors] and B [HL Survivors] had significant lower mean survival duration when compared to cases of group C [WT Survivors]. All cases of the three groups had average values regarding weight, height,BMI and height-for-age percentiles. None of the included cases of the three groups had regular screening for viral hepatitis B or C. Yet, of the included 30 cases, 22 (73.3%) had been screened once during treatment. Of the screened survivors, (27 %) were positive for HbsAg, whereas (9 %) were positive for HCV-Ab. Liver function tests in terms of transaminases were regularly checked in all survivors and all were within normal except for 2 ALL survivors and 1HL survivor who had elevated ALT levels. Renal function tests were done when indicated and found to be within normal range. Chest X-ray was performed during follow-up visits in 8/30 (26.7%) cases. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed during follow-up visits in 17 (56.7%) cases: 7 (38.9%) were of the survivors of ALL, 4 (66.7%) were of the survivors of HL and all survivors of WT. |