5-Minute Pediatric Consult
Cancer Therapy Late Effects
BASICS
DESCRIPTION
Most children diagnosed with cancer will reach adulthood. Childhood cancer survivors require unique medical follow-up. Risks of late effects depend on the treatments received as well as the type and site of cancer.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Among all children diagnosed with cancer, the average long-term survival into adulthood exceeds 80%.
- Among adults treated for childhood cancer:
- Nearly 2/3 of survivors will develop one or more chronic health conditions.
- Nearly 1/3 of survivors will experience severe or life-threatening complications during adulthood.
- Chronic, severe, or life-threatening complications can affect any organ system.
- Long-term mortality from late effects has decreased with advancements in treatment.
- Approximately 450,000 childhood cancer survivors live in the United States.
- These numbers will continue to grow as new cancer therapies become available and more children survive.
RISK FACTORS
Late effects of cancer therapy are influenced by tumor-related, treatment-related, and host factors.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Risk of organ dysfunction is related to primary cancer location and treatment used. See examples of exposure-based recommendations in the following sections.
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Citation
Cabana, Michael D., editor. "Cancer Therapy Late Effects." 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 9th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/618098/3.0/Cancer_Therapy_Late_Effects.
Cancer Therapy Late Effects. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/618098/3.0/Cancer_Therapy_Late_Effects. Accessed August 21, 2026.
Cancer Therapy Late Effects. (2025). In Cabana, M. D. (Ed.), 5-Minute Pediatric Consult (9th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/618098/3.0/Cancer_Therapy_Late_Effects
Cancer Therapy Late Effects [Internet]. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2026 August 21]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/618098/3.0/Cancer_Therapy_Late_Effects.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Cancer Therapy Late Effects
ID - 618098
ED - Cabana,Michael D,
BT - 5-Minute Pediatric Consult
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/618098/3.0/Cancer_Therapy_Late_Effects
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 9
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
