Recognizing and managing the late effects of cancer treatment

Abstract

Treatment for cancer too often adversely affects the very patients it is meant to help, especially children. Long-term damage can be found in the skeleton and soft tissues, in cardiopulmonary and renal function, and endocrine and neurologic function. The authors survey these late effects, including generalized growth suppression, dental and maxillofacial deficits, and pulmonary disorders, and suggest ways to prevent or alleviate them.