Healthy Living: Second Cancer Prevention
What are the risk factors for second cancers in heritable retinoblastoma survivors and, in turn, what do heritable retinoblastoma survivors need to know about living well and minimizing risk of second cancers?
Heritable retinoblastoma survivors have an increased risk of developing second cancers later in life. Many survivors and their families receive general advice to follow in order to minimize cancer risk: don’t smoke, limit sun exposure, etc. Truthfully, we don’t know if these or other measures actually reduce risk of second cancer for retinoblastoma survivors, or to what degree they are protective. We also don’t know if some as of yet undiscovered lifestyle factors could minimize risk of second cancers. Some survivors report feelings of guilt, wondering if they could have done something to prevent a second cancer from occurring.
Why Is This One of the Top 10 Retinoblastoma Research Priorities?
Uncovering the factors that contribute to second cancer risk for retinoblastoma survivors could help us determine how to prevent or minimize risk of second cancers.
Personal Story
I have a mandate from a grandmother who was noted to have an artificial eye when her granddaughter was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in our clinic. Last weekend I was saying goodbye to her as she passed on from her third cancer. She gave me specific instructions for the Canadian Retinoblastoma Research Advisory Board: 1. Address the hypothesis that retinoblastoma related cancers can be prevented. 2. Develop quality research to learn how retinoblastoma families can optimize to live a full life without cancer.
Ophthalmologist
Progress Towards This Priority
Completed Research
| Researcher | Description |
|---|---|
| O. Fletcher | Lifetime risks of common cancers among retinoblastoma survivors. |
| A.C. Schefler | Second Malignancies in Retinoblastoma: The Real Problem |
Patient Engagement Level For This Priority
Patient Engagement Legend
Limited or Unknown Engagement. For this priority, there is limited or no evidence that patients are meaningfully engaged in research.
Some Engagement. For this priority, there is evidence that patients are meaningfully engaged in some parts of research.
Full Engagement. For this priority, there is evidence that patients are meaningfully engaged in the full spectrum of research.
In order to promote patient engagement in retinoblastoma research, we have provided an estimate of the level of patient engagement for each of the Top 10 Priorities, based on what can be discerned from the published literature. This means we may have missed some research where patients are being meaningfully engaged, because it is not reported. If you think we’ve made an error, please let us know via email.