Childhood survivors of CNS cancers and leukemia have lowered educational attainment

This study was undertaken because previous studies on educational attainment among childhood cancer survivors were small, had contradictory findings, or were not population-based.

E.R. Lancashire, of the Centre for Childhood Cancer Survivor Studies, School of Health and Population Sciences, at the University of Birmingham in the UK, and colleagues investigated educational attainment among a cohort of over 10,000 5-year survivors of all types of childhood cancer who had completed a British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study questionnaire. Educational attainment at two levels of secondary school (advanced and ordinary levels) up to the highest level of education was considered. Results were compared with data from the general population obtained from the General Household Survey of Great Britain.

Overall, survivors of childhood cancer experience a deficit in educational attainment compared with the general public. Specifically, only those who had central nervous system neoplasms, especially if they had received radiation to the head, and leukemia survivors receiving similar treatment, performed worse than the general population. These differences were substantial and statistically significant.

"These results provide grounds for concern for survivors of CNS neoplasms and those with leukemia who were cranially irradiated, as well as reassurance regarding educational attainment among all other survivors," the authors write.

Study limitations: Analysis by type of chemotherapy was not possible as this was not available. As almost all leukemics treated between 1940 and 1991 received preventative radiation to the head it was not possible to consider nonirradiated leukaemia survivors separately. As treatments have changed substantially since 1991, follow-up of such more recently treated survivors would be necessary to assess their educational performance.