EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL RISK FOR DEVELOPING TREATMENT ASSOCIATED LATE
EFFECTS AMONG CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS AT BUGANDO MEDICAL CENTRE,
MWANZA, TANZANIA
Abstract
Purpose Evaluate the potential risk for long-term complications
related to cancer therapy among childhood cancer survivors who completed
treatment in Tanzania at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), and compare the
relative risk assessment of BMC survivor cohort and British Childhood
Cancer Survivor Study (BCCSS) cohort. Methods Files of all
patients age <18 yo with an oncologic diagnosis who received
and completed their treatment at BMC from 2016 to 2022 were
retrospectively reviewed. Extracted data included patient demographics,
primary disease diagnosis and site, treatment received, and cumulative
treatment doses. BCCSS risk assessment was assigned. Predicted long term
follow up surveillance needs were extrapolated from published Children’s
Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines. Results A total
of 173 patients were included in the survivor cohort (47% female,
average age =7). The most common diagnoses were Burkitt lymphoma (26%,
n=45) and Wilms (30%, n=52). Within the cohort, 98% received
chemotherapy (n=170), 49% (n=73) underwent tumor resection, and 18%
(n=32) received radiation. Distribution of BCCSS late effect risk
assessment included 6% low risk (n=10), 80% moderate risk (n=139) and
14% (n=24) high risk. Based on treatment received, the late effects
with highest potential risk were cardiomyopathy (57% of patients,
n=98), bladder and urinary tract toxicity (50%, n=87), and ototoxicity
(22%, n=38). Conclusion Childhood cancer survivors at BMC have
a higher risk of late effects as compared to published survivor cohorts
in high-income countries. There is a need to develop and improve
long-term follow-up care for survivors by enhancing patient and provider
education to promote early detection of late effects.[1](#fn-0002)