Young cancer survivors have short life expectancy

Young cancer survivors are at high risk for early death, according to new studies. 

A study published in the April 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, discusses the cumulative effect of disease and treatment related death risk in 15 year old patients who have survived childhood cancer for at least 5 years. 

Researchers found childhood cancer survivors have a 10-year shorter lifespan than others. The reduced life expectancy varied by cancer; for instance, survivors of kidney cancer died about 4 years earlier while bone and brain cancer survivors died much earlier than the general population – 18 years earlier. 

Survivors are defined as those who live over five years after the initial diagnosis.  By this definition, critics of modern cancer treatments say that many people with cancer don't have to do anything to live over five years to become survivors. 

On the other hand, another study in the same issue of the journal found women faced high risk of breast cancer if they received chest radiation for the treatment of cancer in child- or young adulthood. 

Breast cancer is only one of many types of cancers that result from radiation treatment. Specifically, children who receive radiation treatments are at high risk of leukemia in three to 15 years after treatment.  

John Gofman, Ph.D. and MD, a famous nuclear physician, said that 75 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer had been exposed to radiation.  He also said radiation can cause ischemic cardiac artery diseases.

Radiation is the most studied cancer-causing agent.

David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton