Due to better treatments and better monitoring, childhood cancer survivors are living longer, healthier lives, according to a study in the United Kingdom.
Looking at 60 years of data on nearly 35,000 childhood cancer survivors, researchers found decreasing mortality rates overall, and fewer deaths from cancer itself or from after-effects of cancer treatment. By the time survivors are in their 60s, circulatory problems like cardiovascular disease are their biggest cause of death - just like the rest of the population.
"Survival after almost all specific types of childhood cancer has improved substantially," said lead author Miranda Fidler of the Center for Childhood Cancer Survivor Studies at the University of Birmingham.
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