The July 27 Wall Street Journal reports on a 14-year-old cancer survivor who has learned that her curative chemotherapy is now being tested forheart disease. The article notes that one class of toxic drugs--anthracyclines--seem to put survivors at the greatest risk.
Unfortunately, while the emergence of adult diseases after cancer treatment are widely recognized in the pediatric oncology community, often the survivors themselves have no idea of their future risks from the toxic chemotherapy they received. In addition, patients, parents and adult physicians have to deal with these sequelae. Such articles as this in the lay press help to educate the public about this serious healt issue.
Unfortunately, while the emergence of adult diseases after cancer treatment are widely recognized in the pediatric oncology community, often the survivors themselves have no idea of their future risks from the toxic chemotherapy they received. In addition, patients, parents and adult physicians have to deal with these sequelae. Such articles as this in the lay press help to educate the public about this serious healt issue.
