A healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of heart disease and other complications in childhood cancer survivors. These are the findings of two new international studies.
Children who survive cancer have an increased risk of heart disease and other chronic health problems later in life — often as a result of the treatment that saved their lives.
Two new international studies led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital now show that a healthy lifestyle may have a protective effect.
In a study, published nature communicationMore than 18,000 childhood cancer survivors were followed for 30 years. The results suggest that a large proportion of the chronic health problems that emerge after childhood cancer may be linked to lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, smoking and high alcohol intake – and that these factors account for a proportion of the disease burden in adulthood that is comparable to that of previous cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Lifestyle plays a big role
This suggests that lifestyle plays a bigger role than previously thought. Unlike previously prescribed treatments, lifestyle can actually be changed.”
Aaron Vanrup, pediatrician and researcher at the University of Gothenburg and former postdoctoral fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, United States
The second study, published in JACC: CardioOncology, focused on people treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma as children or teens. The study included more than 2,300 survivors of the disease, a type of cancer that develops in the lymph nodes.
The study shows that lack of regular exercise in this group contributes 1.4 times more to the incidence of heart disease than the total disease burden in the general population, or twelve times more that can be explained by inadequate exercise in the general population – despite the fact that the difference in lifestyle habits was not large.
“This means that physical activity can make a big difference in reducing the additional risks that emerge after cancer treatment and in modulating the negative effects of cancer treatment. Our results provide strong scientific support for providing survivors with structured support for a healthy lifestyle,” says Aaron VanRoop.
need for long term support
Together, the studies highlight that healthy lifestyles – especially physical activity and healthy weight – may be important in preventing serious illnesses in childhood cancer survivors. The researchers believe the results suggest lifestyle support should become an integral part of long-term follow-up after childhood cancer.
“This is something we have partly taken into account in the national health care program for long-term follow-up after childhood cancer by emphasizing the importance of mapping lifestyle habits,” says Aaron Vanrup. “What we are working on now is to develop and test ways to help these individuals adopt long-term healthy lifestyles through interventions in both childhood, adolescence and adulthood.”
Aron Vanrup is a pediatric oncologist at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and a specialist physician at the Children’s Cancer Center at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital in Gothenburg.
Source:
Journal Reference:
Vanroop, A., and others. (2026). Potential for reduction in risk of chronic health conditions through lifestyle in childhood cancer survivors. nature communication. doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73517-y. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-73517-y
