George McDonald, M.D., Program Head
The Program in Complications of Cancer Treatment has as its goals the reduction of morbidity from cancer treatment, improved survival, and prevention of late sequelae of cancer treatment. The members of this program design and execute research protocols that aim to: 1) better understand the pathophysiology of damage to the mucous membranes, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys caused by cancer treatment; 2) prevent this damage without interfering with the treatment's effects on cancer cells; 3) treat patients whose survival is jeopardized by complications of hematopoietic cell transplantation; 4) deal with the immediate psychosocial sequelae of cancer treatment. Patients are also followed for life by members of this program to determine the prevalence of medical and psychosocial consequences of cancer treatment in long-term survivors, the risk factors involved, and strategies for prevention and treatment of these conditions. These activities are coordinated through the Long-Term Follow Up section, which sends a yearly health questionnaire to former patients and their physicians. The research delves into growth and development of patients who were treated for cancer as children; the psychosocial and sexual impact of cancer treatment; quality of life issues; and late medical complications of cancer therapy (e.g., osteopenia; cataracts; hepatitis virus infections; cirrhosis of the liver; pulmonary fibrosis; gallstones; endocrine disorders; iron overload; chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and the development of secondary cancers).
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