Radiation therapy, like surgery and chemotherapy, is a mainstay of cancer treatment. The reason radiation is used to treat cancer is that it is usually toxic to the fast growing cancer cells while supposedly having little adverse effects on the slow growing and relatively radiation resistant normal body cells. Unfortunately, normal cells are often affected by radiation in a variety of ways, especially over time.
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Pelvic Radiation Disease Resources
Cardiovascular Risk Calculator
This risk assessment tool predicts risk of heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and stroke by age 50 among survivors of childhood cancer. It uses information from the CCSS papers, “Individual prediction of heart failure among childhood cancer survivors” and “Prediction of ischemic heart disease and stroke among childhood cancer survivors”, which created clinically useful models with readily available demographic and cancer treatment information.
Results of the Long-Term Follow-Up Study
The Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) Study has resulted in more than 300 publications in scientific journals since it was launched in 1994. Some of these articles are summarized here.
Incidence rates of skin cancer
How to Keep Yourself Safe Without a Spleen
You might not think of your spleen that much, but it’s been looking out for you. If you don’t have one, there are some things to know to keep yourself safe from infections.
American Cancer Society (ACS) Cancer Statistics Report 2026
American Cancer Society released their annual report on cancer facts and trends. The report reveals a milestone 70% 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined for those diagnosed between 2015-2021 in the United States, due to cancer research and treatment advancements. The report acknowledges that with increasing survival rates, there must be more emphasis on survivorship challenges.
Managing Cancer Fatigue: Tips for Boosting Energy
In a recent article from the Lymphoma Research Foundation, experts address one of the most common and persistent challenges survivors face: cancer-related fatigue. Unlike everyday tiredness, cancer fatigue can linger long after treatment ends and is not always relieved by rest. The article offers practical, evidence-based strategies to help boost energy, including gentle and regular movement, prioritizing sleep quality, managing stress, pacing daily activities, and addressing medical contributors such as anemia, thyroid issues, or depression.
Self Advocacy: The Fragmented Field Guide
Stanford onco-primary care physician and author Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz turns her national keynote into a practical playbook for anyone navigating a complex medical journey. She pulls back the curtain on how fragmented our health care system really is and offers three actionable strategies to take control of your care.
Acupuncture May Aid Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors
New research presented at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggests that acupuncture may help ease “brain fog” and thinking difficulties many survivors struggle with after cancer treatment.