Researchers are now calling for the long-term health effects to be considered when choosing treatment for cancer patients, as a study shows cancer survivors have a lower number of doctor visits. General or hospital visits related to cardiovascular disease are 5 times higher than being at age 45.
This control group was people who did not develop cancer early in life. They also had a much higher number of health care visits related to infections, immune system disorders, and subsequent cancers than the control group.
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A new study by researchers at University College London has found that early cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing the disease as they get older, and that these risks vary according to the type of cancer. existing cancer and methods of treating that cancer. Researchers are now calling for consideration of the long-term health effects associated with this cancer as young patients and their families must decide about treatment with their doctors.
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The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, found that cancer survivors were five times more likely to visit their general practitioner or go to hospital for heart-related diseases than in the general population. age 45, compared with a matched control group of people without early cancer. They also had a much higher number of health care visits related to infections, immune system disorders, and subsequent cancers than the control group.
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Looking at treatment, the researchers found that the burden of subsequent health effects was highest for those treated with both chemotherapy and radiation, and lowest for patients receiving surgery. For example, people treated with chemotherapy and radiation had more than twice as many overall hospitalizations by age 45 as those who had surgery alone, and they had seven times as many visits to their general practitioner. department or go to the hospital for cardiovascular examination at the same age. They are also at risk of getting cancer a second time and of developing more aggressive (metastatic) cancer.
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Lead author Dr Alvina Lai (UCL Institute of Health Informatics) said: "More than 80% of children and young people diagnosed with cancer survive, but they face healthcare needs especially due to late effects caused by cancer or previous cancer treatment." He was also the first to fully outline how surviving early cancer affects the health of young patients as they age. "We believe it is important for families and their doctors to consider these long-term effects early, so the benefits of a therapy can be weighed against any long-term risks". “In the case of people whose cancer is detected early, we hope that further studies can investigate how to minimize the long-term impact of their cancer therapies.” Lead author Wai Hoong Chang (UCL Institute of Medical Informatics) said: "Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy is effective in saving the lives of cancer patients but is associated with lower quality of life in the long term."
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The study compared the anonymized health records of 3,466 people diagnosed with cancer in the UK before the age of 25, who survived for at least five years, with a control group of 13,517 people without early cancer in life. The two groups were matched based on criteria such as age, gender and level of socioeconomic deprivation. Data was recorded from 1998 to 2020. The team analyzed the health data of cancer survivors from age 18, or five years from their initial diagnosis - whichever occurred later.
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The researchers compared the burden of 183 physical and mental conditions in the two groups, looking at the total number of times people visited their GP or were hospitalized for each condition. They also analyzed the burden of different diseases in cancer survivors stratified by cancer type, cancer treatment received, and by treatment dose.
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They found that cancer survivors who develop cardiovascular conditions lose an average of 10 years of life compared to those who do not, while those with immune system diseases and infections lose average 6.7 years. The next cancer was associated with the loss of 11 years of life.
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People living in the most deprived areas have the highest burden of late health effects, suggesting the need for targeted policies to raise awareness among those at high risk. Mental illness is also a common late effect, suggesting that coordinated physical and psychological care is needed.
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The research team has received funding from the Wellcome Trust, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Research Institute UK Health Data, and Academy of Medical Sciences.
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Editor:
Hoang Hiep – Phacogen Institute of Technology,
PhD in Biotechnology - UST University, Korea
Source of articles:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211114201801.htm
