Rehabilitation for children and young people surviving a brain tumor, and their transition to adult services: the main challenges

ABSTRACT

Introduction: It is well known that, with advances in the treatment of cancer patients achieving a 5-year overall survival of over 75% nowadays, pediatric neuro-oncologists are worried about long-term sequelae that frequently demand lifelong care and multiple specialist skills.

Areas covered: This review aims to discuss the main issues concerning cancer survivors’ disabilities and rehabilitation, including cognitive and neuropsychological aspects, language and social skills, the return to school, starting or returning to work, endocrinological impairments, and supportive measures. The review also covers some experimental rehabilitation pathways based on advanced tools or techniques to provide an overview of the currently-available options for improving patients’ quality of life. We have included our findings deriving from a lengthy experience (2000–2015) of assessing brain tumor patients and managing their intensive tailored rehabilitation.

A case report on a patient’s coping with childhood cancer into adult life has been added to give a pragmatic example of the psychological needs and difficulties of young cancer survivors during the necessary transition from pediatric age into adulthood adaptation.

Expert commentary: It is important to stress that the tremendous progress made to date in our knowledge of pediatric neuro-oncology and in our management of patients has to be accompanied by a day-to-day effort to provide for their tailored rehabilitation, striving to bridge the gap that separates them from the normal life and experiences of their healthy peers.

KEYWORDS:

• Brain tumors
• Quality of life
• sequelae
• rehabilitation
• Pediatric oncology

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

Associazione Bianca Garavaglia Onlus, Grant: 2015. LILT (Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori), Sezione Milano, Grant: 2017. Il Fondodi Giò Grant: 2016.