ABSTRACT
In the United States, approximately 8,500 children each year are diagnosed with some form of cancer before the age of 15 (Parker, Tong, Bolden, & Wingo, 1997). Of these, approximately 30% have some form of leukemia, and an additional 20% are diagnosed with a tumor of the central nervous system (CNS; Robison, 1997). Overall, survival rates for all types of childhood cancer are now approaching 70%, although not all childhood cancers have as good a success rate of cure (Parker et al., 1997). Nonetheless, it is estimated that, by the year 2010, more than 1 of 1,000 adults will be a survivor of childhood cancer (Hawkins & Stevens, 1996). As treatment has improved, many children with cancer are able to return to school, although many will experience long-term cognitive and growth late effects that will affect academic performance, social competence, and long-term quality of life (Armstrong & Mulhern, 1999; Humpl, Fritsche, Bartels, & Gutjahr, 2001; Packer, Meadows, Rorke, Goldwein, & D’Angio, 1987).
