Quality‐adjusted survival: A rigorous assessment of cure after cancer during childhood and adolescence Journal Articles uri icon

  •  
  • Overview
  •  
  • Research
  •  
  • Identity
  •  
  • Additional Document Info
  •  
  • View All
  •  

abstract

  • AbstractSurvivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence, while increasing gratifyingly in number with ever more effective therapy, have a life expectancy that is compromised all‐too‐often in both duration and value as a result of adverse treatment‐related sequelae. Accounting for this burden of morbidity and mortality is essential for a proper appreciation of cure. Adjusting estimates of survival by measures of its quality affords a means of accomodating this requirement. It can be accomplished by “weighting” the length of survival according to preference‐based assessments of health‐related quality of life (HRQL), which allow the calculation of quality‐adjusted life years. Inclusion of measures of HRQL in clinical trials is imperative as we reach to the ultimate objective; the truly cured child restored to normal health. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

publication date

  • March 2005