Childhood cancer survivors face a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic health issues, often due to the very treatments that saved their lives. However, a recent study published in Nature Communications and another in JACC: CardioOncology reveal that adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce these risks. These findings emphasize the importance of lifestyle support as an integral part of long-term follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors.
The first study, led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, followed over 18,000 childhood cancer survivors for up to 30 years. It found that lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, and high alcohol intake contribute to a significant portion of chronic health problems in adulthood. These factors account for a burden of disease comparable to that caused by traditional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.
Aron Onerup, a Pediatrician and Researcher at the University of Gothenburg, notes, "This reveals that lifestyle plays a much bigger role than previously thought. Unlike the treatments already given, the lifestyle can actually be changed."
The second study, published in JACC: CardioOncology, focused on survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that originates in the lymph nodes. It found that a lack of regular exercise in this group contributed to a 1.4 times higher incidence of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population, or twelve times more than can be explained by insufficient exercise in the general population.
Onerup emphasizes, "This means that physical activity can make a big difference in reducing the extra risk that emerges after cancer treatment and modify the negative effects from cancer treatments. Our results provide strong scientific support for offering survivors structured support for healthy lifestyles."
These studies highlight the crucial role of physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight in preventing serious diseases in childhood cancer survivors. The researchers advocate for lifestyle support to become a standard component of long-term follow-up care, with interventions tailored to survivors' needs throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Onerup concludes, "What we are now working on is to develop and test ways to support these individuals to adopt long-term healthy lifestyles, through interventions both in childhood, adolescence, and in adulthood."
These findings are particularly significant as they offer a proactive approach to managing the long-term health consequences of childhood cancer, potentially improving the quality of life for survivors and reducing the burden of chronic diseases.
