Survival for childhood cancers has increased dramatically over the years. Researchers are now evaluated long term side effects from childhood survivors of brain tumors and leukemia who received cranial radiation therapy (CRT).
A clinical trial was conducted that evaluated the risk of stroke later in life among survivors included 37 patients who had been diagnosed with leukemia and 63 patients with brain tumors that had been treated with CRT. Their rates of stroke were compared to stroke rates of their siblings who had not been diagnosed with childhood cancer.
The researchers concluded that increased doses of CRT increase the risk of a stroke later in life. Patients who have received prior CRT may wish to speak with their physician regarding their individual risk of a stroke.
1. I guess we just have to learn more about strokes. What can trigger this, how to detect early signs, and what to do in case of emergency. It's not a surprise that radiation can cause this increase of chances of having a stroke later in life. We know there are side effects to radiation.We just have to know more about what these side effects are. So to those who have read this just spread the word. So people can study more about these things.
Posted at 9:23AM on Nov 20th 2006 by David Bowe