A survey of adults treated for cancer as children found high rates of depression, anxiety, fatigue and cognitive difficulties, prompting calls for lifelong follow-up care.
A new study has found that many adults who survived cancer in childhood continue to face serious mental health and fatigue-related problems years later. According to findings published in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer and reported by Izvestia, the research team surveyed 132 people aged 18 to 40 and found clinically significant symptoms of depression in 49%, anxiety in 41%, marked fatigue in 43% and cognitive difficulties in 28%.
Anna Franczen, a medical student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said the results were striking because they showed how often childhood cancer survivors struggle with psychological health well into adulthood. The authors argued that the burden may stem not only from the illness itself, but also from prolonged treatment, repeated hospital stays and disruption to normal childhood routines. They called for long-term follow-up of people treated for cancer as children.
The findings fit with a wider body of research suggesting that childhood cancer can have lasting effects on emotional wellbeing, energy levels and thinking ability. A 2021 study in the journal Cancer found that young adult survivors reported lower health-related quality of life, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and more fatigue than comparison groups. Other research has linked childhood cancer survivorship with sleep problems, neurocognitive impairment and persistent cognitive fatigue, particularly among survivors of brain tumours and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Russian psychiatrist and narcologist Ruslan Isaev told Gazeta.Ru that a reluctance to keep up with personal hygiene, maintain order or carry out ordinary household tasks can occur during a depressive episode, but it is not specific to depression on its own. He said such behaviour should be considered alongside other signs, including low mood, sleep and appetite disturbance, reduced motivation, cognitive problems, guilt and suicidal thoughts. Isaev added that statements about not wanting to start a new day warrant particular attention if they may reflect thoughts of death or self-harm.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
