Today, about 80% of children with cancer can be cured thanks to advances in medicine. However, treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can cause health issues later in life. One of these is diabetes mellitus, a chronic condition in which the body struggles to regulate blood sugar levels.
The study included over 2,300 adult survivors of childhood cancer. Their health data were compared with that of more than 130,000 individuals without a cancer history. Survivors were found to be three times more likely to develop diabetes—especially those who had abdominal or total body radiation.
Diabetes diagnosed at younger age
Melissa Bolier, MD-researcher at the Princess Máxima Center and Erasmus MC: ‘We found that diabetes was typically diagnosed around age 33 in survivors, compared to age 44 in the control group. This supports the idea that cancer treatments can accelerate aging processes in the body.’ Damage to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and hormone disturbances caused by radiation may contribute to this increased risk.
Opportunities for prevention
While some risk factors - such as past radiation- are unchangeable, others are not. ‘A high BMI and disrupted fat metabolism are potentially modifiable,’ says Bolier. ‘Lifestyle interventions like increased physical activity and weight loss, which are effective in the general population, could also benefit childhood cancer survivors.’
Further research is needed to identify which interventions work best to prevent diabetes in this group.
Dutch data, global relevance
The DCCSS LATER 2 study is unique in the Netherlands and offers a representative picture of the long-term health of childhood cancer survivors. The findings also provide valuable insights for international studies, as treatment protocols vary between countries.
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