Growth Hormone Deficiency and Growth Hormone Replacement in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is common in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Major risk factors for GHD include radiation therapy, both cranial and total body irradiation, and tumor location. Some newer anti-cancer therapies may impact growth and the GH-IGF-1 axis as well. While untreated childhood-onset GHD adversely impacts adult height in CCS, longstanding GHD can cause or exacerbate multiple metabolic and skeletal health problems. This chapter discusses considerations in the diagnosis and treatment of GHD in CCS and discusses long-term outcomes in survivors of childhood cancer who have GHD.