Current childhood cancer statistics suggest that approximately 80% of children who are diagnosed with cancer will be “cured.” Considering that the survival rate of a pediatric cancer diagnosis in the 1970s was about 50%, this may seem like a compelling data point. And while such a significant increase in the childhood cancer survival rate is wonderful news, people are not as aware that just because a child has survived cancer does not mean he or she no longer has to deal with the disease.  Even our modern day treatments are free of  long-term consequences.

Here are four stunning statistics about childhood cancer that highlight why the cancer fight is still a fight long after being cured:

1) Over 60% of long-term childhood cancer survivors have a chronic illness due to the therapy they received, and over 25% have a severe or life-threatening illness.

The health risks survivors face as they age depend on the exposures they received as treatment for their cancer. Each chemotherapeutic agent, radiation dose or surgery has unique potential long-term consequences. The health risks include second cancers, heart disease, infertility and many others. Understanding the exposures and developing a personalized, risk-based screening plan is critical to maintaining wellness for survivors.

2) 16% of survivors meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Anxiety and depression can have a profound impact on wellness, even in those with excellent physical health. Knowing the signs of anxiety or depression, recognizing that these do not represent a failure or weakness, and accepting help can greatly improve survivor wellness.

3) Over 325,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States (approximately 1 in 570 young adults).

While childhood cancer is relatively rare (14,000 cases in the United States per year), survivors of childhood cancer are common. Especially given the unique health risks survivors face, teaching primary care providers and medical specialists about this important, large and growing group of patients is very important. Forming care-partnerships between survivorship specialists and primary care providers can be an effective way of optimizing survivors’ health.

4) Approximately 75% of centers that treat childhood cancer have some form of long-term follow-up program.

Providing individualized, risk-based screening plans and coordination of care for childhood cancer survivors is becoming more and more important. In fact, the care of survivors of childhood cancer has developed into its own medical subspecialty, with a few centers across the country even offering specialized fellowship training in survivorship. Some centers follow patients for life, others have transition programs where childhood cancer survivors who are now adults can be followed in adult-centered programs that focus on childhood cancer survivor health risks. For survivors, finding a center that can provide individualized, risk-based survivorship care has become easier, but it is up to the survivors to take that first step and contact the center to establish care.

Click here for more insight about childhood cancer statistics, and answers to FAQ’s about childhood cancer.