Accumulation of chronic disease among survivors of childhood cancer predicts early mortality

Cancer survivors develop cancer and treatment-related morbidities at younger than normal age. Application of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) to adult survivors of childhood cancer and to their sibling and to the general population (NHANES) showed that cancer survivors over a 19-year period gain additional chronic conditions at an accelerated pace. Every point increase in baseline CIRS-G total score among survivors was associated with 9% increased hazard for death (95% CI 8-10).