Rehabilitation for children and young people surviving a brain tumor, and their transition to adult services: the main challenges

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntroduction: It is well known that, with advances in the treatment of cancer patients achieving a 5-year overall survival of over 75% nowadays, pediatric neuro-oncologists are worried about long-term sequelae that frequently demand lifelong care and multiple specialist skills.Areas covered: This review aims to discuss the main issues concerning cancer survivors’ disabilities and rehabilitation, including cognitive and neuropsychological aspects, language and social skills, the return to school, starting or returning to work, endocrinological impairments, and supportive measures. The review also covers some experimental rehabilitation pathways based on advanced tools or techniques to provide an overview of the currently-available options for improving patients’ quality of life. We have included our findings deriving from a lengthy experience (2000–2015) of assessing brain tumor patients and managing their intensive tailored rehabilitation.A case report on a patient’s coping with childhood cancer i...