Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Vangile, Kirsten M Author's Email Address kvangile@hotmail.com URN etd-12042008-133347 Title Childhood Cancer Survivors: Patient Characteristics Degree MPH Department Public Health Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Russ Toal, MPH Committee Chair Karen Wasilewski-Masker, MD, MSCR Committee Member Keywords
- long-term follow up
- geographical location
- race
- health insurance
- barriers
- childhood cancer
- survivor
Date of Defense 2008-11-21 Availability restricted Abstract Survivors of childhood cancer are a relatively new phenomenon in the medical world. The introduction of treatment protocols in the 1970s started a trend in curing children of cancer that historically had been a death sentence. Under these treatment protocols children were given different treatment regimens based on past research that helped remove cancerous cells from their bodies, but were later found to be the cause of treatment related morbidities years into the future; for most survivors roughly ten to 20 years post treatment. These morbidities, commonly called late-effects, are the prime reason that survivors of childhood cancer need to participate in survivorship care. Survivors of childhood cancer are particularly vulnerable to late-effects because the majority of them receive their treatment at a time when their bodies are still growing and developing. Survivorship care services vary by site, but all maintain the common goals of providing long-term follow up for the survivor and education about the ways in which treatments may affect a survivors’ health as they age. Similar to many other facets of healthcare and medicine, there are many populations who do not participate in survivorship care. The purpose of this research is to identify possible barriers to care, assess the level of impact these barriers have upon the survivor’s potential for participation and provide suggestions as to how these barriers can be mitigated. Additionally, this research highlights areas that need further research and analysis.
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