Language

English

Publication Date

10-15-2025

Journal

Journal of Cancer Survivorship

DOI

10.1007/s11764-025-01903-4

PMID

41091381

PMCID

PMC12696749

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

12-12-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Purpose: Survivorship care is vital to screen for and manage late effects, yet follow-up remains suboptimal. We examined factors associated with long-term survivor clinic (LTSC) nonattendance, delayed initiation, and disengagement at a large, diverse pediatric cancer center.

Methods: We analyzed outcomes in 1138 survivorship-eligible childhood cancer survivors diagnosed between 2011 and 2019. Outcomes included (1) LTSC nonattendance (no visit ≥ 2 years post-treatment), (2) delayed LTSC visit initiation (first visit > 5 years from end of treatment), and (3) LTSC visit disengagement (no follow-up after initial LTSC visit). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with each outcome were estimated by multivariable logistic regression.

Results: The mean age at the end of treatment was 9.3 years (standard deviation ± 5.6); 56% were male, 50% Latino, and 42% had leukemia. Twenty-one percent never attended LTSC. Nonattendance was associated with older age (aOR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11-1.18), public (aOR = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.65-3.44), or no insurance (aOR = 2.58; 95% CI, 1.20-5.42). Delayed initiation was linked to higher odds of disengagement (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI, 0.85-1.92). Disengagement was higher among older (aOR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05-1.12) and publicly insured (aOR = 2.29; 95% CI, 1.55-3.42) survivors.

Conclusions: Timely and accessible survivorship care is essential to mitigating late effects of cancer treatment. Here, one in five survivors did not receive survivorship care and patients that initiated LTSC early were more likely to remain engaged. Implications for Cancer Survivors Tailored interventions that support older and under-insured survivors and early referral to LTSC may improve survivor initiation and long-term engagement with survivorship care.

Keywords

Cancer survivorship, Long-term survivor clinic, Adherence, Childhood cancer

Published Open-Access

yes

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