[Late side-effects of antineoplastic treatment in childhood (author's transl)]

Every child has a 1:600 chance of developing cancer. Therapeutic progress was impressive throughout the past years. The number of late side-effects of therapy, however, is increasing, too. Among these, problems of fertility, therapy-induced genetic defects, impaired skeletal growth, endocrinologic defects (esp. hypopituitarism), anomalies of metabolism, chronic deficient bone marrow and reduced pulmonary function have to be discussed. One of the most severe consequences is the development of secondary tumors, which may occur in 4% of the long-term survivors. Tumor-treatment has to be performed at a center by a qualified team of oncologists; the same is valid for prevention and/or early detection and treatment of late side-effects of tumor therapy.