[Evaluation of the main late endocrine effects in children and adolescents after treatment of malignancies]

Impact of late radiation effects on cancer survivor children: an integrative review

We aimed to identify the late effects of radiation exposure in pediatric cancer survivors. An integrated literature review was performed in the databases MEDLINE and LILACS and SciELO. Included were articles in Portuguese and English, published over the past 10 years, using the following keywords: “neoplasias/neoplasms” AND “radioterapia/radiotherapy” AND “radiação/radiation”. After analysis, 14 articles - published in nine well-known journals - met the inclusion criteria. The publications were divided into two categories: “Late endocrine effects” and “Late non-endocrine effects”. Considering the increased survival rates in children who had cancer, the impact of late effects of exposure to radiation during radiological examinations for diagnosis and treatment was analyzed. Childhood cancer survivors were exposed to several late effects and should be early and regularly followed up, even when exposed to low radiation doses.

Cancer repercussions on play in children: implications for nursing care

The study aimed to identify cancer repercussions on play among children in oncological treatment. This was qualitative research implemented according to a creative and sensible method. Twenty-two family members of seven children in ambulatory cancer treatment in a hospital from Rio de Janeiro participated. Data production occurred in family members' houses, from September 2011 to May 2012. The data were analyzed according to discourse analysis. Two thematic units emerged: childhood cancer - a happening about play; and playing in the course of the child's illness and treatment: a possibility to rescue care of maintaining life. Maintaining play is a child's need that demands nursing care of a different nature, to assure the right to play during treatment, in order to reduce traumas and damage to their development.