Exploration of Cognitive Functioning in a Pilot Sample of Childhood Cancer Patients in Egypt

Manal A. Shehata¹, Mohamed Fawzy², Mai S. Saleh^3, , Zeinab M. Monir¹ and Hanafy Ahmed²

¹Child Health Department, National Research Center, 33 Elbehouth street Dokki, Giza, Egypt

²Pediatric Oncology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Fom El Khalig Square Kornish El Nil, Cairo, Egypt

³Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department, National Research Center, 33 Elbehouth street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Cite this paper:
Manal A. Shehata, Mohamed Fawzy, Mai S. Saleh, Zeinab M. Monir and Hanafy Ahmed. Exploration of Cognitive Functioning in a Pilot Sample of Childhood Cancer Patients in Egypt. Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment. 2015; 3(2):19-24. doi: 10.12691/jcrt-3-2-1

Abstract

A subset of cancer survivors experience cognitive deficits that can last for many years after the completion of chemotherapy. The etiology of this problem is largely unknown, so the present study aimed to assess cognitive functioning in childhood patients with cancer and to investigate the proposed disposing factors including variables related to disease, treatment, and some socio-demographic characteristics. In a case control study parents of 67 cancer patients aged 8-12 years, completed the parent proxy report of PedsQL™ 3.0 Cognitive Functioning Scale (Arabic versions), as well as a separate sheet for socio-demographic data. Control group consisted of 37 healthy subjects from the same age group were subjected to the same methodology for comparison. All patients under the study have successfully accomplished their treatment protocol and were in complete remission during the evaluation. Hematological malignancies represented 70.1% of the patients sample, with the highest proportion for ALL (52.2%). Brain tumors represented 40% of the solid malignancies (29.9% of the study patients). Cognitive functioning score was significantly lower in the solid group (69.6±37.3) compared to the hematologic group (85.1±22.2) (t = 2.1, p =0.038). Cognitive functioning score was also lower in solid group versus control subjects (p =0.047), while it showed no significant difference between hematological malignancies and control group. Older age at diagnosis, urban residence, illiterate mothers, higher duration of treatment as well as long duration of hospital admission were associated with a lower cognitive score in the solid tumors group compared to hematological group.

Keywords:
childhood cancer- PedsQL™ 3.0 cognitive functioning scale

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