Cancer in children and adults with intellectual disabilities: Current research aspects

Abstract

In recent years it has become clear that cancer is a major health concern for people with an intellectual disability. In the general population it is estimated that one in four people will develop cancer and that more than half of those diagnosed will die from the disease. Recent research has revealed that cancer is not less frequent in people with an intellectual disability and some tumours are more common. This population has different risk factors for developing cancer and different needs for both medical and psychosocial care provision. Consequently, medical surveillance, diagnosis procedures and treatments often have to be modified to suit this population. This book presents and discusses research on topics such as adapted care for people with intellectual disability and cancer, general aspects of cancer surveillance, cancer in persons with Down syndrome and also cancer in persons with other syndromes.