University of California-Los Angeles Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To review the common physical and psychosocial late effects of treatment in adult and childhood cancer survivors. DATA SOURCES: Published articles and research studies. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of individuals diagnosed with cancer can be expected to survive for more than 5 years. These survival gains have occurred because of more complex and multimodal therapy that may increase long-term toxicities. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Health care providers must be familiar with these late effects to offer preventive care and health promotion strategies to this patient population.