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Social outcomes in young adult survivors of low incidence childhood cancers

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Abstract

Introduction

The intensity and duration of childhood cancer treatment may disrupt psychosocial development and thereby cause difficulties in transition into adulthood. The study objective was to assess social outcomes in early adulthood after successful treatment for childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Wilms tumor (WT) and infratentorial astrocytoma (IA).

Methods

Nordic patients treated for AML, WT and IA from 1985 to 2001 identified from a database administered by NOPHO (Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology) were invited to participate in a postal survey. All cancer-free survivors treated at age >1 year who were >19 years at time of study were eligible. Seventy-four percent; 247/335 responded. An age-equivalent group (N = 1,814) from a Norwegian Census Study served as controls.

Results

Mean age of survivors was 23 years (range 19–34), 55% females. The proportion with academic education (≥4 years) was similar in survivors and controls (28 vs. 32%). Fifty-nine percent of survivors were employed compared to 77% among controls (p < .01). More survivors were recipients of social benefits (6.7 vs. 3.1%, p < .01). There were no differences in marital status but parenthood was more common among controls (37 vs. 27%, p = .01). Controls lived longer in their parental homes (p = .01). Cancer type or treatment intensity had no statistically significant impact on results, except for parenthood.

Conclusions and Implications for Cancer Survivors

The study revealed important differences in social outcomes between survivors and controls early in adult life. Specific difficulties pertain to studying social status in early adulthood because of the natural transition characteristics for this age group. Therefore, longer follow-up is warranted.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all the respondents who participated in the study. We also want to thank Kirsten Marie Skandsen, Kristine Finset, Susanna Mört, and Ann-Marie Jacobsson for participating in data collection and management.

There are no potential financial benefits or conflicts of interest that might bias this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Resource Centre for Studies of Long-term Effects after Cancer, Department of Clinical Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, 0310, Oslo, Norway

    Inga M. R. Jóhannsdóttir & Jon H. Loge

  2. The Cancer Centre, Oslo University Hospital, Ulleval, Oslo, Norway

    Marianne J. Hjermstad

  3. Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Marianne J. Hjermstad

  4. Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1111, Blindern, Oslo, Norway

    Torbjørn Moum & Jon H. Loge

  5. Division of Pediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway

    Finn Wesenberg

  6. Department of Pediatrics, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

    Lars Hjorth

  7. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Aarhus, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark

    Henrik Schrøder

  8. Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Päivi Lähteenmäki

  9. Department of Pediatrics, Landspitalinn, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Gudmundur Jónmundsson

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  1. Inga M. R. Jóhannsdóttir
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Correspondence to Inga M. R. Jóhannsdóttir.

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Jóhannsdóttir, I.M.R., Hjermstad, M.J., Moum, T. et al. Social outcomes in young adult survivors of low incidence childhood cancers. J Cancer Surviv 4, 110–118 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-009-0112-3

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