Abstract
Purpose: Vitamin D plays an important role in many bodily systems, with increasing evidence suggesting its importance for the prevention of chronic diseases and cancer. The identification of vitamin D levels in childhood cancer survivors becomes, therefore, particularly relevant, given that optimizing levels may contribute to the prevention of secondary malignancies and chronic diseases. Methods: A cross - sectional analysis of serum 25 - hydroxyvitamin D levels among adult survivors of childhood cancers living in New York State and surrounding areas (n = 139) was performed. Independent variables included gender, race/ethnicity, cancer site, year of diagnosis, past medical and surgical history, prior radiation therapy; prior chemotherapy, age at diagnosis, age at last clinic visit, year of last clinic visit, height, weight, body mass index, and vitamin D supplementation. Results: Overall, 34% of survivors were vitamin D deficient ( 25 demonstrated lower levels of vitamin D (p < 0.05). Vitamin D levels did not vary by age group, race, ethnicity, diagnosis, or years since diagnosis. Conclusion: Given the growing awareness of the role of vitamin D and the documented late effects of treatment for childhood cancers, the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency within the childhood cancer survivor population is of concern. Vitamin D represents an important target for surveillance and intervention to help improve long - term outcomes of childhood cancer survivors.
Highlights
The success in treating childhood and adolescent cancers is evident by the dramatic reduction in mortality rates over the past several decades, with more than 80% of current patients surviving for five years.[1, 2] This achievement, has led to a growing number of long - term survivors with new complications from their previous therapies
This study examines the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among adult survivors of childhood cancers
International Journal of Cancer Therapy and Oncology 3 www.ijcto.org survivors were Vitamin D deficient, 39% were classified as insufficient and 27% were classified as having sufficient Vitamin D levels
Summary
The success in treating childhood and adolescent cancers is evident by the dramatic reduction in mortality rates over the past several decades, with more than 80% of current patients surviving for five years.[1, 2] This achievement, has led to a growing number of long - term survivors with new complications from their previous therapies. An extended follow up by Mertens et al.[2], for example, found excess overall mortality of 8.4 fold when compared to age -, sex - and year - matched. Excess mortality was due primarily to secondary malignancies, followed by cardiac and pulmonary causes.[2] As a result, late effects of therapy and quality of life among adult survivors of childhood cancers have become areas of intense investigation.[3,4] Given the critical need for structured follow-up of survivors of childhood cancer, evaluations should
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