of nearly 18,000 childhood cancer survivors treated between 1946 and 2012 in the Netherlands, France, the United States and Switzerland. The study results were published inAn international team of researchers, led by group leader Prof Dr. Leontien Kremer and Dr. Jop Teepen, found that 782 of all 17,903 survivors in the study were later diagnosed with breast cancer. The scientists analyzed which forms of treatment were linked to the later occurrence of breast cancer.
"We have known for some time that anthracyclines can be harmful to the heart, so the importance of keeping the dose of this type of chemotherapy low was already clear. Developing a second cancer is a rare but serious late effect of childhood cancer treatment. Our results underline the need to reduce the dose of doxorubicin in children whenever possible."