Second cancers in survivors of childhood cancer

Abstract

More than 70% of children diagnosed with cancer can now be expected to be long-term survivors. However, the consequences of 'cure' might be considerable for the survivors of cancer: 60-70% of young adults who have survived childhood cancer will develop at least one medical disability as a result of their cancer or, more commonly, as a result of their therapy. Of these, the most devastating is a second cancer.