Insights from an advisory board: Facilitating transition of care into adulthood in brain cancer survivors with acquired pediatric growth hormone deficiency
Craig Alter , Margaret Boguszewski , David Clemmons , Georgiana A. Dobri , Mitchell E. Geffner , Nicky Kelepouris , Bradley S. Miller , Richard Oh , Heidi Shea , Kevin C.J. Yuen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
Children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) face multiple challenges that can negatively impact the transition from pediatric to adult endocrinology care. For children with GHD resulting from brain cancer or its treatment, the involvement of oncology care providers and possible disease-related comorbidities add further complexity to this transition.
Design
An advisory board of pediatric and adult endocrinologists was convened to help better understand the unique challenges faced by childhood cancer survivors with GHD, and discuss recommendations to optimize continuity of care as these patients proceed to adulthood. Topics included the benefits and risks of growth hormone (GH) therapy in cancer survivors, the importance of initiating GH replacement therapy early in the patient's journey and continuing into adulthood, and the obstacles that can limit an effective transition to adult care for these patients.
Results/conclusions
Some identified obstacles included the need to prioritize cancer treatment over treatment for GHD, a lack of patient and oncologist knowledge about the full range of benefits provided by long-term GH administration, concerns about tumor recurrence risk in cancer survivors receiving GH treatment, and suboptimal communication and coordination (e.g., referrals) between care providers, all of which could potentially result in treatment gaps or even complete loss of follow-up during the care transition. Advisors provided recommendations for increasing education for patients and care providers and improving coordination between treatment team members, both of which are intended to help improve continuity of care to maximize the health benefits of GH administration during the critical period when childhood cancer survivors transition into adulthood.
期刊介绍:
Growth Hormone & IGF Research is a forum for research on the regulation of growth and metabolism in humans, animals, tissues and cells. It publishes articles on all aspects of growth-promoting and growth-inhibiting hormones and factors, with particular emphasis on insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and growth hormone. This reflects the increasing importance of growth hormone and IGFs in clinical medicine and in the treatment of diseases.