Although most childhood cancer survivors can accurately describe their diagnosis, many know very little about their treatments or the risks associated with those treatments. That's according to a 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

And that means they're probably not getting the screenings they need to monitor for those risks, says Daniel Mulrooney, M.D., M.S., director of the Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic at the University of Minnesota.

For childhood cancer survivors, being aware of the types of cancer treatments they received and the long-term health risks associated with those treatments is key to ensuring a long, healthy life.

Through long-term follow-up care, doctors can help survivors monitor their health and catch any potential problems early with screening tests tailored to their specific risks. For example, if a survivor was treated with a class of chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines, which have been linked to heart problems, the survivor would occasionally have an echocardiogram to check for early signs of heart damage. These screenings are meant to catch and treat—or altogether prevent—any potential issues before they become serious problems.

Experts in long-term follow-up care also can help survivors of childhood cancer deal with any learning difficulties or emotional and social issues after their treatment.

And continuing follow-up care through adulthood is important because survivors' needs continue to evolve, says pediatric oncologist and Masonic Cancer Center member Joseph Neglia, M.D., M.P.H. Survivors may have questions about heart health and competing in high school sports in their teenage years, but 10 years later, they may want to talk about fertility and having children.

Long-term follow-up care also can benefit childhood cancer patients today. By tracking current survivors' health needs through the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, the University's physician-researchers can learn more about certain treatment methods' long-term health effects and then find ways to adjust those treatments for kids now dealing with cancer in hopes of minimizing the long-term effects on their health.

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The Growing Up After Cancer section of the Masonic Cancer Center Web site was produced by University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication graduate student Nicole Endres. The section's medical content was written under the advisement of Masonic Cancer Center member Joseph Neglia, M.D., M.P.H.