Child Advocacy
Crafted blog article
An independently authored longform article rooted in lived experience, showcasing narrative strategy and subject-matter fluency.
My Role
Orchestrated full-scope development as Strategic Content Creator.
Owned research synthesis, narrative framing, copywriting, and visual integration.
Drew on subject-matter expertise and personal advocacy experience.
Prioritized accuracy, empathy, and clarity throughout the piece.
Strategic Relevance
This project showcases my ability to:
Translate complex, emotionally charged topics into accessible, purpose-driven content.
Extend strengths in instructional writing and audience-centered communication.
Apply mission-aligned storytelling to sensitive health contexts.
Demonstrate editorial precision and strategic intent.
Impact & Results
Planned to support grant proposals and inform policy conversations.
Equipped families and providers with actionable insights.
Drove awareness and deepened trust.
Served as a tool for education and advocacy.
Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Long-Term Health Risks & Care
By Kristen Kent
Childhood cancer used to be a near-certain death sentence. Today, according to the American Cancer Society, 85% of children with cancer survive. It’s one of the greatest success stories in modern medicine. But survival is not the end of the story — it’s only the beginning.
From Surviving to Thriving: Long-Term Health in Childhood Cancer Survivorship
Nearly half a million childhood cancer survivors live in the U.S. alone. Survivorship care is a shift from intensive cancer treatment to long-term follow-up care. It bridges the gap between treatment and lifelong wellness. As more children move beyond treatment, ensuring they receive thoughtful, ongoing care is essential to help them thrive, not just survive.
What Long-term Medical Issues do Childhood Cancer Survivors Face?
Long-term medical issues, called late effects, arise years after treatment ends. According to a report by the National Institutes of Health, more than 70% of childhood cancer survivors develop at least one chronic health condition within 30 years of their initial diagnosis. Common late effects of childhood cancer treatment include:
Cardiotoxicity from anthracycline chemotherapy.
Endocrine disorders like thyroid dysfunction and infertility.
Neurocognitive challenges linked to CNS-directed therapies.
Metabolic syndrome and liver damage from steroids and chemotherapy.
Secondary cancers such as breast or thyroid cancer.
Mental health is also a significant concern. A 2024 analysis of psychological symptoms among childhood cancer survivors by JAMA Pediatrics found significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Another study from Denmark and Sweden confirmed elevated risks of psychiatric disorders in childhood leukemia survivors.
What Is Survivorship Care?
Survivorship care is a proactive, personalized approach to supporting childhood cancer survivors after treatment ends. It helps identify and manage late effects and improves long-term outcomes through regular monitoring and tailored support.
Key features of survivorship care include:
Risk-based screenings for heart, endocrine, cognitive, and secondary cancer risks.
Personalized care plans summarizing treatment history and follow-up recommendations.
Specialist access to providers trained in pediatric oncology follow-up.
Mental health support for survivors facing emotional or psychological challenges.
Lifestyle guidance to promote long-term wellness and prevent complications.
Survivorship care also plays a vital role in helping survivors navigate the physical and emotional complexities of life after cancer. It fosters continuity between oncology and primary care, equips families with clear guidance, and empowers survivors to take an active role in their health.
Why Is Survivorship Care Needed?
Childhood cancer survivorship care is a proven pathway to better long-term health. A 2025 study from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University found that those who received a personalized survivorship care plan had a 38% lower risk of death over 10 years compared to those who did not. Additional highlights of the study include:
Study size and scope: The research followed more than 3,000 pediatric cancer survivors diagnosed between 2002 and 2016, making it one of the largest longitudinal studies of its kind.
Multiple survivorship visits improve outcomes: Survivors who engaged in more than one survivorship care visit and received updated care plans showed even greater survival benefits.
Event-free survival increased: Survivorship care was linked not only to longer life but also to fewer serious health events, including hospitalizations and late-effect complications.
Evidence for policy and practice: The study provides the first direct evidence that structured survivorship care improves long-term survival, supporting broader implementation in pediatric oncology follow-up programs.
By offering structured, personalized follow-up, survivors are better able to manage complex health risks, reduce complications, and maintain a higher quality of life.
Why Health Equity Matters in Childhood Cancer Survivorship
Many survivors, however, lack access to critical follow-up care. Survivorship clinics aren’t available in all areas, and primary care providers may not be equipped to manage long-term risks. Integrated care models are needed to overcome barriers to long-term care for childhood cancer survivors, especially in underserved populations. Survivors from marginalized communities face greater challenges, including:
Limited access to follow-up care.
Financial and geographic barriers.
Underrepresentation in survivorship research.
The World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer aims to raise survival rates in low- and middle-income countries to 60% by 2030. Survivorship care must be part of that mission. The American Cancer Society’s 2025 Survivorship Report calls for donor-funded programs to expand access and improve outcomes.
What Childhood Cancer Survivorship Care Looks Like
Supporting survivorship programs means:
Funding clinics and survivorship care teams.
Training providers to recognize late effects of cancer treatment.
Expanding health equity by improving access in underserved communities.
The numbers are clear: most childhood cancer survivors face chronic health challenges, making ongoing, structured survivorship care essential for long-term health and well-being. Yet while the data is powerful, it doesn’t drive change — people do. Whether through research, policy, or awareness, we each have a role to play in making childhood cancer survivorship care a priority. Remember, behind every survival statistic is a life still unfolding.
—————
Kristen Kent is an independent writer, strategic content leader, nonprofit co-founder, and longtime advocate for families navigating childhood cancer. She brings a storyteller’s clarity and a caregiver’s heart to her writing projects, drawing on years of experience translating complex topics into content that informs, empowers, and connects.
