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"Healing is no longer the purpose of treatment of childhood cancer. Since most of these patients will survive, attention should be paid to improving the quality of life challenges and their long term health," the researchers wrote.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from over 20,000 adults in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, who had cancer before age 20 years. Researchers compared them with nearly 126,000 adults who did not have childhood cancer.
During an average follow-up of 15 to 19 years, 3.6 percent of childhood cancer victims were hospitalized at least once for autoimmune diseases. The number of events 40 percent higher than adults who did not have childhood cancer, according to Dr. Anna Sallfors Holmqvist, pediatric hematology and oncology at Skåne University Hospital in Lund, Sweden.
Diabetes and Addison's disease accounts for nearly half of the cases of autoimmune disease among survivors of childhood cancer, the findings show. Addison is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not work properly. Autoimmune diseases involving the thyroid gland is also more common in this group.
The risk of developing autoimmune disorders seen in cancer patients with leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, kidney cancer, and tumors of the central nervous system. Their risk 60 percent higher than those who had not experienced cancer during childhood, according to a report published online in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
Increased risk for autoimmune disorders peaked during the first five years after a diagnosis of cancer. But most of the risk persisted for 30 years and to 50 years for some conditions, the study authors said as quoted from Health24, Tuesday (02/02/2016).
The researchers say that the possibility of an increased risk of autoimmune disorders are the result of cancer, chemotherapy and radiation therapy that alter the immune system. However, the association seen in this study does not prove cause-effect relationships. (Hel)
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