Childhood cancer survivors are more likely to develop new tumors with the passage of time, suggested a recent study.

During the study, researchers have carefully analyzed around 14,358 individuals, registered in the federally funded Childhood Cancer Survivor study, and observed that 1,382 or 9.6% of childhood cancer survivors have developed new tumors, different than their previous cancer.

The lead study author and an assistant member of the St. Jude Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, Gregory Armstrong, said that survivors are candidates for additional genetic evaluation to look for an underlying genetic propensity for tumor development or an inability to protect healthy cells against the harmful effects of radiation.

"These findings show that when you describe adult survivors of childhood cancer it is not sufficient to describe their risk of a first subsequent cancer, but to acknowledge that some of these patients are at risk for multiple cancers”, added Gregory Armstrong. "This is the first study to more fully enumerate that risk”.

To avoid these risks, researchers have suggested the female survivors, treated with chest radiation of 20 gray or more, to underwent a mammogram at the age of 25 rather than late 40s. In addition, they advised regular annual visits to physicians.