Thanks to improved therapies, more than 80 percent of U.S. children with cancer now become long-term survivors. An estimated 420,000 childhood cancer survivors live in the U.S. alone, with many more around the world.
St. Jude leads some of the world’s most ambitious research programs in childhood cancer survivorship. With unique data gathered from tens of thousands of cancer survivors, we are identifying the long-term effects of cancer therapy; finding better ways to predict health risks; and working to help survivors everywhere live longer, healthier lives.
St. Jude LIFE Study
St. Jude LIFE is an unprecedented study in which thousands of former St. Jude cancer patients periodically return to our campus for comprehensive clinical evaluations throughout their adult lives.
Findings from this unique cohort have yielded novel insights into the long-term effects of pediatric cancers and their treatments, and are informing new approaches to improve long-term survivor health.
Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
St. Jude is the coordinating center for the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). This multi-institutional collaboration is the world’s single largest resource for survivorship research.
Through this initiative, we are analyzing comprehensive treatment exposure and self-reported outcomes data for more than 35,000 survivors, including thousands who were treated at St. Jude.
Meet our teams
St. Jude faculty and staff include some of the world’s leading investigators and clinicians in pediatric cancer survivorship.
Patient care
As well as our unique research programs, we provide world-class clinical care for survivors who have completed their active therapy at St. Jude. Patients whose disease has been in remission for five years receive specialized care at our After Completion of Therapy (ACT) clinic. Survivors graduating from St. Jude clinical programs may receive cancer-related consultation services through the St. Jude Alumnus Office.
Latest survivorship research
-
Long-term survivors of childhood cancer living longer thanks in part to treatment changes
Study shows the 15-year death rate among childhood cancer survivors has decreased steadily since 1970, coinciding with changes in pediatric cancer therapy and follow-up care.
-
Genetic counseling suggested for all childhood cancer survivors
St. Jude has completed the first genome sequencing of cancer survivors and found that 12 percent of childhood cancer survivors may have a higher risk of cancer.
-
Health inequity may drive higher symptom burden in childhood cancer survivors
Findings from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital reveal that childhood cancer survivors with disadvantaged socio-demographic factors are over 7 times more likely to experience severe symptom burdens.
-
Genetics weigh heavy on childhood cancer survivors’ risk of developing obesity
St. Jude scientists created a way to identify childhood cancer patients at diagnosis who are at the highest risk for developing severe obesity as adults.
-
A high-risk pair – a drug and DNA variant increase heart disease risk in cancer survivors
St. Jude scientists identified a genetic difference in childhood cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy that predisposes them to heart problems as adults.
-
Chronologically young, biologically old – DNA linked to cancer survivors’ premature aging
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital findings lay the groundwork for identifying pediatric cancer survivors at higher risk of accelerated aging and chronic diseases.
-
Scientists link frailty and neurocognitive decline in childhood cancer survivors
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have shown that frailty contributes to neurocognitive decline in young adult survivors of childhood cancer.
-
Understanding how brain tumor treatment affects the brain
An unprecedented study finds that survivors of childhood brain tumors are at risk of memory and intelligence deficits. A key goal? Catch them early.
-
Chemo drug makes multitasking a challenge for some leukemia survivors
Methotrexate exposure tied to reduced mental flexibility, planning and other executive function skills in long-term survivors of pediatric leukemia.
-
Computer games aid attention and memory in cancer survivors
Online cognitive training offers expanded access to effective method of improving working memory and easing late effects of cancer treatment.
-
Survivors of childhood bone cancer are at risk for learning, memory problems
Research from the St. Jude LIFE study found childhood osteosarcoma survivors have a higher risk for learning and memory problems.
-
Study of childhood cancer survivors shows reduction in radiation therapy leads to decline of second cancers
Changes in childhood cancer treatment, including the reduced use of radiation therapy, has reduced the risk for second cancer in survivors.
-
The chance to earn modest rewards may help get kids moving
Want young cancer survivors to stay active? Pilot study finds the chance to earn stickers, T-shirts and other rewards helps keep survivors moving.
-
Yearly pituitary screening helps childhood cancer survivors manage risk
St. Jude researchers have reported more evidence that many childhood cancer survivors need their pituitary function checked annually.
-
Surprising number of young cancer patients are predisposed to the disease
Landmark study shows almost one in 10 children with cancer were born with an increased genetic risk for the disease.