PBS高端访谈:儿科癌症幸存者不得不面临一生的健康挑战

 　　JUDY WOODRUFF: Almost 80 percent of children who are diagnosed with cancer today in the U.S. survive, thanks in large part to advances in treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.

　　But a growing body of research indicates survivors² are at greater risk for a host of health problems in later life, due to the very treatments that saved their lives.

　　The NewsHour's Cat Wise has our report.

　　CAT WISE: Laura Allaire has her hands full these days. A former nurse, she's now a stay-at-home mom raising two young daughters in Orinda, California, just outside San Francisco.

　　Allaire, who is 33, exercises often and does yoga. In many ways, she is the picture of health, but a decade ago, she was in a very different place.

　　LAURA ALLAIRE, Pediatric Cancer Survivor¹: I was diagnosed when I was 12 years old with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

　　CAT WISE: Allaire was in seventh grade when she learned she had cancer. She kept a journal detailing a grueling year of hospital visits and treatments.

　　LAURA ALLAIRE: "After Dr. Morgan has checked me and says I'm healthy enough, she says I can get my chemotherapy. For chemo, my medicines are ordered and then I go see Melody. Melody gives me my medicine through a port."

　　CAT WISE: The chemotherapy and radiation Allaire received are well-known weapons in the battle against cancer. Powerful chemicals in chemotherapy drugs attack cells that are rapidly dividing. And high-energy beams used in radiation kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA³.

　　LAURA ALLAIRE: I had a mass in my chest, and so the radiation was directed there. And my doctors actually gave me a small tattoo⁴ after I was done with the radiation, so that I would always know exactly where the radiation was directed towards.

　　CAT WISE: But, ironically, the same treatments that saved Allaire's and so many other cancer patients' lives also come with a downside. In the process of killing⁵ the cancer cells, they can damage surrounding healthy cells, which can lead to other health problems known as late effects.

　　That's particularly dangerous for those who beat cancer when they are young and have years to develop late effects. A recent study found that adult survivors of childhood cancer are five times more likely than their siblings⁶ to develop new cancers, heart problems and other serious health conditions after the age of 35.

　　DR. ROBERT GOLDSBY, Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program, University of California, San Francisco: The good news is, more people are surviving cancer. The bad news is those that survive, more than half have a long-term issue.

　　CAT WISE: Dr. Robert Goldsby is a pediatric oncologist at the University of California, San Francisco, Benioff Children's Hospital. And he directs the Survivors of Childhood Cancer program, also known as the Survivors Clinic.

　　It's one of a number of similar programs around the country that are caring for the more than 300,000 survivors of pediatric cancer and studying their long-term health.

　　WOMAN: How are you feeling today? Can I listen?

　　CAT WISE: In addition to getting frequent checkups, survivors and their families are educated about health risks they face, based on the specific treatments they received, and where they received them.

　　DR. ROBERT GOLDSBY: The organs in our bodies can be beaten up by the chemotherapy, the radiation, the surgeries. So, we have to monitor heart function, lung function, liver, kidneys, all the organs. Some survivors deal with infertility⁷, post-traumatic stress syndrome⁸.

　　CAT WISE: Laura Allaire knows all too well the possible side effects of the radiation and chemo treatment she received as a child. On a recent day, she was at the Survivors Clinic for a regular checkup with Dr. Goldsby. Last year, Allaire had her thyroid removed after an ultrasound revealed a suspicious growth. And she's been on medication for a heart problem, conditions Dr. Goldsby says are likely caused by her cancer treatments as a youngster.

　　But about 5 percent of all pediatric cancer survivors face a far more serious repercussion⁹: secondary cancer. That risk increases with age and with certain therapies.

　　Eleven-year-old Samantha Schwarz is battling cancer for the second time in her life. The bone cancer discovered in her temple last year was most likely caused by radiation she received in the same area as an infant to treat a tumor¹⁰ behind her left eye.

　　SAMANTHA SCHWARZ: It's been a little tough coming to the hospital every two weeks. It's been tough not seeing my brother, and my dog, and my dad.

　　DR. ROBERT GOLDSBY: And the radiation probably came this way and this way and this way.

　　CAT WISE: Dr. Goldsby helped to diagnose Samantha's second cancer while she was being seen at the Survivors Clinic at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco.

　　DR. ROBERT GOLDSBY: And this round thing there, that's your second cancer. And it's related to your treatment.

　　The fact that they have to go through therapy again may increase their risk for other long-term-related issues.

　　Marilyn Schwarz is Samantha's mom.

　　MARILYN SCHWARZ: The doctors did tell us about some of the after-effects of chemotherapy and radiation, but, for us, there was no choice. We just knew that our child needed help right away. So when the doctors told us the second cancer was here in the head, in the same spot, I think, for both my husband and I, our hearts just dropped.

　　CAT WISE: Besides just living longer than adults treated for cancer, there's another reason pediatric patients are more at risk for recurrences¹¹, according to Dr. Jean Nakamura, a radiation oncologist at the university.

　　DR. JEAN NAKAMURA, Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, Benioff Children's Hospital: Young children have developing tissues. They undergo rapid proliferation of — multiple organs are growing. There's a lot of cell activity, and so that probably is a basic reason that contributes to second cancer risk uniquely in young children, as compared to everybody else.

　　CAT WISE: Dr. Nakamura is leading a team of scientists who are studying the genetic¹² makeup¹³ of second cancer tumors to understand why they form in some patients after treatment.

　　DR. JEAN NAKAMURA: If one could identify genes¹⁴ or molecular¹⁵ pathways that are specifically altered in second cancers, we might actually be able to screen for second cancers, and not have to wait until something develops and is visible.

　　CAT WISE: But, as research continues to unfold into secondary cancers and other late effects caused by chemo and radiation, doctors treating critically ill patients today must still rely on those same treatments.

　　Dr. Mignon Loh is chair of pediatric molecular oncology at Benioff Children's Hospital.

　　DR. MIGNON LOH, Pediatric Molecular Oncology, University of California, San Francisco: I would say that most families are really focused on getting their child to feel better, and I think that's where their focus should lie.

　　I think, as physicians, we have the responsibility to inform them about potential late effects, not to completely overwhelm them. But I would say our priority currently remains¹⁶ curing the first cancer. And I don't think anybody wants to compromise on the ability to cure the first cancer.

　　CAT WISE: For her part, survivor Laura Allaire says she doesn't like to dwell on what might lie ahead.

　　LAURA ALLAIRE: I don't think about it on a daily basis, because that's not how I want to live my life. I have been through a lot, and I understand that this isn't something that most people go through. But I'm in a unique situation, and I need to be proactive and make sure I take care of myself.

　　CAT WISE: And she goes forward more knowledgeable¹⁷ about what she went through as a child, and hopeful for a healthy future.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF: On our Web page, you can see what all patients of UCSF Survivors Clinics receive, a health passport, which gives detailed¹⁸ information about their past treatments and follow-up care they need in the future.

1 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

2 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

3 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

4 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

7 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句

8 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

9 repercussion   

n.[常pl.](不良的)影响，反响，后果

参考例句：

• After being put out,service has received very good market repercussion.服务推出后收到了非常好的市场反响。
• The president's death had unexpected repercussion.总统的逝世引起出乎意料的反响。

10 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

11 recurrences   

n.复发，反复，重现( recurrence的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It was a melancholy tempered by recurrences of faith and resignation and simple joy. 心中不时产生信念，乐天知命的情绪，单纯的欣悦，从而冲淡了忧郁的气质。 来自辞典例句
• The interval without tumor burden turned shorter after multiple recurrences. 多次复发者复发间期逐渐缩短。 来自互联网

12 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

13 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

14 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

15 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

16 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

17 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。

18 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。