Late effects care for childhood brain Tumor Survivors: A Quality-Improvement Initiative.

Childhood and adolescent brain tumor survivors are at risk for long-term consequences of therapy. We reviewed adherence to long-term follow-up (LTFU) guidelines, assessed provider perspectives, and studied the needs, experience and quality of life (QOL) of pediatric malignant brain tumor survivors in the McMaster Children's Hospital Neuro-Oncology clinic. LTFU areas for improvement were evaluated using an anonymous health provider needs assessment questionnaire.

Salvage Therapy for Childhood Medulloblastoma: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction: Children diagnosed with medulloblastoma (MB) who are refractory to upfront therapy or experience recurrence have very poor prognoses. Although phase I and phase II trials exist, these treatments bear significant treatment-related morbidity and mortality.

Methods: A retrospective review of children diagnosed with a recurrence of MB from 2002 to 2015 at McMaster University was undertaken.

Analysis of surgical and MRI factors associated with cerebellar mutism.

The surgical risk factors and neuro-imaging characteristics associated with cerebellar mutism (CM) remain unclear and require further investigation. Therefore, we aimed to examine surgical and MRI findings associated with CM in children following posterior fossa tumor resection. Using our data registry, we retrospectively collected data from pediatric patients who acquired CM and were matched based on age and pathology type with individuals who did not acquire CM after posterior fossa surgery.

Exploration of Morbidity in a Serial Study of Long-Term Brain Tumor Survivors: A Focus on Pain.

Purpose: Children surviving brain tumors are frequently identified as having substantially decreased health-related quality of life (HRQL) in cross-sectional studies. This study explored the HRQL of a cohort of such survivors, who were recruited as adolescents and followed for a decade, in order to determine the trajectory of their morbidities.

Method: Children diagnosed between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1998, more than 2 years from diagnosis (N = 40), were recruited in 2000/2001 (T1) aged 16.

Health-related Quality of Life in Long-term Survivors of Brain Tumors in Childhood and Adolescence: A Serial Study Spanning a Decade.

Survivors of brain tumors in childhood experience adverse sequelae that are greater in prevalence and severity than those encountered by survivors of all other forms of cancer in early life, reflected in a burden of morbidity by instruments measuring health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, there are few studies of the change in HRQL over time in such populations. Patients who were above 5 years of age, at least 2 years from completion of therapy, and able to communicate in English were eligible for study of HRQL by the Health Utilities Index HUI2 and HUI3 at study entry, and again 5 and 10 years later.

Childhood atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor of the central nervous system: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Purpose: Therapy for central nervous system (CNS) atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is controversial. We describe 4 children treated with sarcoma-like therapy and review the literature to evaluate outcome in relation to treatment modalities.

Procedure: Reports from 1995 to 2007, describing clinical features of children (< or =18 years) were reviewed for details of demography, therapy, and outcome.

Using plain language skills to create an educational brochure about sperm banking for adolescent and young adult males with cancer.

Writing in plain language makes it easier for patients to read, understand, and make informed decisions about sperm banking. Greater attention to the issue and properly designed educational brochures for use by nurses in oncology and reproductive health is of evident importance but of unknown impact. A multidisciplinary clinical team followed an evidence-based, patient-centered approach to develop "plain language" patient education materials about sperm banking for adolescent and young adult (AYA) males with cancer.

Effectiveness of sperm banking in adolescents and young adults with cancer: a regional experience.

Background: Improving success in the treatment of cancer has resulted in an increasing number of survivors. An important quality of life issue among younger survivors is the ability to have a family. Current gonadotoxic treatments for cancer pose a challenge to future fertility.

Osteopenia, physical activity and health-related quality of life in survivors of brain tumors treated in childhood.

Background: Osteopenia has been reported in children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors, apparently as a consequence of therapy. It has been suggested that cranial irradiation may play a role in the development of this complication. In order to explore that possibility, we examined survivors of brain tumors treated with and without radiation in childhood to investigate associations between radiation, osteopenia, physical activity, health status and overall health-related quality of life (HRQL).