addonfinal2
What Foods are Recommended for Cancer?
is a very common question. Personalized Nutrition Plans are foods and supplements which are personalized to a cancer indication, genes, any treatments and lifestyle conditions.

Risk of Subsequent Cancers in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Jun 9, 2021

4.7
(37)
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Home » Blogs » Risk of Subsequent Cancers in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Highlights

Childhood cancers like leukemia that are treated with higher cumulative doses of chemotherapy like cyclophosphamides and anthracyclines, face an increased risk of developing subsequent/secondary cancers. Secondary/Second Cancers in childhood cancer survivors are a common long term chemotherapy side effect.



Childhood Cancers

Second Cancers in Childhood Cancer Survivors (long term chemotherapy side effect)

Childhood cancers occur in children, teens and young adults. The most common cancer in children is leukemia, a cancer of the blood. Other cancer types such as lymphoma, brain tumors, sarcomas and other solid tumors can also occur. Thanks to improved treatments, there are more than 80% of childhood cancer survivors in the US. Treatments depend on the type of cancer but can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and more recently even immunotherapy. However, as per the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, they estimate that more than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health-related issue by the time they are 45 years old, which could be a consequence of their earlier cancer treatment (https://nationalpcf.org/facts-about-childhood-cancer/).

Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!

No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.

Second Cancers in Childhood Cancer Survivors

With the presence of a large number of cancer survivors, researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School examined the association of childhood cancer survivors who were treated with chemotherapy with the incidence of subsequent malignant neoplasm (SMN) as part of the childhood cancer survivor study (Turcotte LM et al, J Clin Oncol., 2019). They evaluated SMNs in survivors who were first diagnosed with cancer when they were less than 21 years old, between 1970-1999. The key details of the study population and findings of their analysis are:

  • Median age at diagnosis was 7years and median age at last follow-up was 31.8 years.
  • They examined greater than 20,000 childhood survivors who were treated with either chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy along with radiation therapy, radiation therapy alone or neither.
  • The childhood survivors treated with chemotherapy alone had a 2.8 fold increased risk of SMN.
  • Rate of incidence of SMN was higher in childhood survivors treated with platinum therapy. Additionally, for alkylating agents (Eg. Cyclophosphamide) and anthracyclines (Eg. Doxorubicin), there was a dose response relationship seen between higher doses of these chemotherapy and higher incidence of breast cancer.

Science of Right Personalized Nutrition for Cancer

Risk of Second Primary Breast Cancer in Leukemia or Sarcoma Survivors

In another earlier analysis as part of the childhood cancer survivor study which included 3,768 female childhood leukemia or sarcoma cancer survivors who were treated with increasing doses of chemotherapy like cyclophosphamide or anthracyclines, it was found that they were significantly associated with risk of developing secondary/second primary breast cancer. There was a 5.3 fold and 4.1 fold increased risk of developing second primary/secondary breast cancer in sarcoma and leukemia survivors respectively. (Henderson TO et al., J Clin Oncol., 2016)

Risk of Secondary Skin Cancers in Childhood Cancer Survivors who once received Radiotherapy

According to the findings from another study called the DCOG-LATER cohort study which included 5843 Dutch childhood cancer survivors who had been diagnosed with various types of cancers between 1963 and 2001, the survivors who were once treated with radiotherapy had an increased risk of secondary skin cancers The study found approximately 30 fold increased risk of basal cell carcinomas in these survivors. This also depended on the extent of skin area exposed during the treatment. (Jop C Teepen et al, J Natl Cancer Inst., 2019)

Conclusion


In summary, childhood cancer survivors who were treated with higher cumulative doses of chemotherapy like cyclophosphamide or anthracyclines for cancers like leukemia face an increased risk of developing subsequent second/secondary cancers (long term chemotherapy side effect). Therefore, risk-benefit analysis of cancer treatment for children and young adults should favor treating with limiting cumulative doses of chemotherapy and consideration of alternative or more targeted therapy options to reduce the risk of developing subsequent malignant cancers in future.

What food you eat and which supplements you take is a decision you make. Your decision should include consideration of the cancer gene mutations, which cancer, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, lifestyle information, weight, height and habits.

The nutrition planning for cancer from addon is not based on internet searches. It automates the decision making for you based on molecular science implemented by our scientists and software engineers. Irrespective of whether you care to understand the underlying biochemical molecular pathways or not - for nutrition planning for cancer that understanding is needed.

Get started NOW with your nutrition planning by answering questions on the name of cancer, genetic mutations, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, habits, lifestyle, age group and gender.

sample-report

Personalized Nutrition for Cancer!

Cancer changes with time. Customize and modify your nutrition based on cancer indication, treatments, lifestyle, food preferences, allergies and other factors.


Cancer patients often have to deal with different chemotherapy side effects which affect their quality of life and look out for alternative therapies for cancer. Taking the right nutrition and supplements based on scientific considerations (avoiding guesswork and random selection) is the best natural remedy for cancer and treatment related side-effects.


Scientifically Reviewed by: Dr. Cogle

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D. is a tenured professor at the University of Florida, Chief Medical Officer of Florida Medicaid, and Director of the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

You can also read this in

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 4.7 / 5. Vote count: 37

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?