biostudies-literatureUnknownBashore LNCI NIH HHS<h4>Purpose</h4>To examine associations between special education, chronic health conditions (CHCs), and college graduation in survivors of childhood cancer and their siblings.<h4>Methods</h4>Childhood Cancer Survivor Study participants included 23,082 5-year survivors (53.7% male; median [IQR] age at diagnosis, 6 [3-13] years; age at evaluation, 31.0 [24-39] years; treated between 1970 and 1999) and 5,037 siblings (47.7% male; 36.0 [28-44] years at evaluation). Special education use, reasons for special education, CHCs, and college graduation were self-reported. Primary cancer diagnosis and treatment exposures were abstracted from medical records. Comparisons between survivors and siblings were made using chi-square statistics; demographic and treatment factors associated with outcomes were examined using modified Poisson regression models.<h4>Results</h4>More survivors reported special education use than siblings (26.5% <i>v</i> 8.6%; relative risk [RR], 2.55 [95% CI, 2.32 to 2.80]). Of those survivors and siblings who had special education services, use was highest between kindergarten and fifth grade (64.4% of survivors and 71.9% of siblings in kindergarten-fifth grade, 14.4% of survivors and 12.5% of siblings in sixth-eighth grade, and 9.2% of survivors and 9.0% of siblings in ninth-12th grade), and primarily attributable to learning and concentration problems. Despite receiving special education, survivors were less likely to graduate college compared with siblings requiring special education (RR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66 to 0.88]). Risk for not graduating college included history of CNS tumor (RR, 1.47 [95% CI, 1.40 to 1.55]), cranial irradiation (20-29 Gy, RR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.25]; 30-49 Gy, RR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.26 to 1.49]; ≥50 Gy, RR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.28 to 1.42]), or the presence of a severe, disabling or life-threatening CHC (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3-4, RR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.24]).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Cognitive problems and CHCs increase risk for not graduating college; these problems are not alleviated by special education.JCO oncology practiceOP2500414https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12419484biostudies-literatureChronic Health Conditions and Academic Achievement: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Report.PMC12419484P30 CA021765U24 CA055727Jiwani ZMHowell RMSrivastava DLeisenring WMGibson TMOeffinger KLi CMcDonald AJKing APeterson RKLiu WLupo PJWang MKrull KRArmstrong GTBashore LEdelstein KBowman WPfalseChronic Health Conditions and Academic Achievement: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Report.<h4>Purpose</h4>To examine associations between special education, chronic health conditions (CHCs), and college graduation in survivors of childhood cancer and their siblings.<h4>Methods</h4>Childhood Cancer Survivor Study participants included 23,082 5-year survivors (53.7% male; median [IQR] age at diagnosis, 6 [3-13] years; age at evaluation, 31.0 [24-39] years; treated between 1970 and 1999) and 5,037 siblings (47.7% male; 36.0 [28-44] years at evaluation). Special education use, reasons for special education, CHCs, and college graduation were self-reported. Primary cancer diagnosis and treatment exposures were abstracted from medical records. Comparisons between survivors and siblings were made using chi-square statistics; demographic and treatment factors associated with outcomes were examined using modified Poisson regression models.<h4>Results</h4>More survivors reported special education use than siblings (26.5% <i>v</i> 8.6%; relative risk [RR], 2.55 [95% CI, 2.32 to 2.80]). Of those survivors and siblings who had special education services, use was highest between kindergarten and fifth grade (64.4% of survivors and 71.9% of siblings in kindergarten-fifth grade, 14.4% of survivors and 12.5% of siblings in sixth-eighth grade, and 9.2% of survivors and 9.0% of siblings in ninth-12th grade), and primarily attributable to learning and concentration problems. Despite receiving special education, survivors were less likely to graduate college compared with siblings requiring special education (RR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.66 to 0.88]). Risk for not graduating college included history of CNS tumor (RR, 1.47 [95% CI, 1.40 to 1.55]), cranial irradiation (20-29 Gy, RR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.25]; 30-49 Gy, RR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.26 to 1.49]; ≥50 Gy, RR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.28 to 1.42]), or the presence of a severe, disabling or life-threatening CHC (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3-4, RR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.24]).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Cognitive problems and CHCs increase risk for not graduating college; these problems are not alleviated by special education.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-02T01:02:50.982Z2026-05-24T03:06:55.892ZS-EPMC124194844092099210.1200/OP-25-0041410.1200/op-25-00414