19 - Neuropsychological Outcomes in Pediatric Cancer Survivors: Clinical Management and Emerging Research

As survival rates for pediatric cancer continue to improve, cancer-related morbidity and late effects remain a central focus for neuropsychologists working with this population. This clinically-focused presentation provides an overview of our current understanding of factors associated with cognitive and educational outcomes for pediatric cancer survivors. We discuss cognitive phenotypes primarily associated with disease and treatment factors in pediatric leukemia and brain tumors, including a review of mechanisms, risks, and mitigating factors affecting outcomes for survivors. This includes patient variables, disease and treatment factors, psychosocial factors, and socioeconomic contributors to outcomes. This workshop will include a discussion of educational impacts these specific cancer types have on children and adolescents, emphasizing the need to bridge clinical findings with various types of academic supports. We offer an overview of the current state of interventions to ameliorate cognitive and educational impacts of pediatric cancer. Recommendations are provided for clinicians to incorporate into their work with this population, including discussion of risk-based/tiered approaches to assessment to provide right-size assessment services to this broad population.