Childhood Cancer Survivors

James Metz, MD
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Last Modified: November 1, 2001

Authors: Nancy Keene, Wendy Hobbie & Kathy Ruccione
Publisher: O'Reilly & Associates
ISBN: 1-56592-460-6

OncoLink Rating:

There have been dramatic increases in the cure rates of childhood cancers over the past few decades. This has led to a subsequent increase in the number of cancer survivors living into adulthood. Special issues relating only to childhood cancer survivors have come to light in recent years. The emotional, mental, and physical results of cancer treatments and experiences are broad. In previous generations, it was only considered important to cure a child of cancer. Today, many other concerns are of equal importance. It is said best by Giulio D'Angio MD, Professor Emeritus of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, throughout his years in practice and in the forward of this book, Cure is not enough.

There is a paucity of guides for both health care providers and patients that address the special issues of childhood cancer survivors. This important book was written to fill this void and empower survivors. The topics in the beginning of the book range from relationships with families and friends to discrimination at jobs to health insurance issues. Subsequent sections deal with specific childhood cancers and long term health effects from cancer treatments and recommended follow up tests. Each organ system is addressed with a discussion of the possible late effects, their detection, and management. Throughout the book, stories of childhood cancer survivors personalize the text.

Each of he authors has personal experiences with children with cancer. Nancy Keene had a daughter diagnosed at the age of 3 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She has subsequently authored 4 books related to childhood cancer. Wendy Hobbie, an oncology nurse practitioner, helped develop one the first comprehensive care programs for survivors of childhood cancer at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Kathy Ruccione is currently the nursing administrator in the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. The three authors have teamed up to create a wonderful resource for both health care professionals and childhood cancer survivors.

Childhood Cancer Survivors contains a wealth of important information that will benefit survivors for years after their treatment of cancer. It also contains a listing of service organizations, books, and online resources. It is clearly a "must have" reference for both health care professionals and childhood cancer survivors. OncoLink gives this book its highest recommendation.