Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the March issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release:March 2, 2009, 12:01 am (ET)

Rapid progress in treating childhood cancers has meant the majority of these patients now survive into adulthood. This growing population is vulnerable to a variety of long-term side effects and complications from treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. In the new clinical report, “Long-term Follow-up Care for Pediatric Cancer Survivors,” the American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidance to pediatricians in detecting late treatment effects based on the cancer and treatment history of a patient. The report suggests pediatricians collaborate with each child’s primary oncology subspecialist to develop a comprehensive, individualized survivorship care plan.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.