Health-related quality of life among survivors of cancer in children

Abstract

Over the past decades, substantial improvements in diagnostics, treatment, techniques and pharmacotherapy have resulted in a steadily increasing population of childhood cancer survivors.Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of survivors has gradually become the focus of attention.Survivors of cancer in children will face a range of problems, such as physical, psychological and social pressure brought by the disease, growth and development disorders, gonadal dysfunction and late effects (organ dysfunction and secondary cancer). Previous studies have shown that the HRQoL of cancer survivors is significantly lower than that of the normal people, but some studies dedicated that the cancer experience may have a positive impact on the HRQoL of survivors.The quality of life questionnaires is widely used to evaluate HRQoL from the aspects of physical health, mental health and social health.Information from observational, cross-sectional, but particularly longitudinal studies, is needed to further describe HRQoL of cancer survivors in children, as well as provide a foundation for the development of intervention studies.More relevant studies are expected to provide evidence-based basis in making clinical decisions. Key words: Cancer; Survivors; Health-related quality of life; Child