According to an Australian study, the children who have managed to survive cancer should be given proper follow-up treatment. The health care is necessary for such children, as they are at a high risk of developing new cancer and are prone to early death.

For the study, as many as 900 childhood cancer survivor cases from 1972 to 1999 were analyzed. These children were treated at the Sydney Children's Hospital.

The study revealed that childhood cancer survivors were five times more vulnerable to acquire new cancer. They were also found to be 7.5 times more prone to early death.

Dr. Lesley Ashton, who is the Head of the Molecular Epidemiology Program at the Children's Cancer Institute in Australia, stated that almost two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors can develop an unremitting health problem later in their lives, out of which few of the chronic problems could be considered serious.

Dr. Ashton further said that the scientists are trying hard to find out the genes, which will enable them to establish which survivors would develop cancerous tumors.

He also added that if the researchers would be able to find out the exact genetic factors, then it would be possible for them to make individualized cancer treatments.