Each year, around 350 children and young people in Switzerland are diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to medical advances, 88 percent of children under the age of 15 can be cured. However, many survivors and their families continue to face long-term consequences, ranging from health and psychosocial challenges to financial, insurance-related and legal difficulties. Despite their significance, these issues have received little attention in Swiss research.

Understanding life after childhood cancer

The project The Long Shadow of Childhood Cancer, funded by Cancer Research Switzerland and completed in April 2026, set out to address this gap. Led by Dr Katharina Roser, with Dr Sonja Kälin and Martina Ospelt as researchers and Dr Manya Jerina Hendriks and Dr Luzius Mader as collaboration partners, the project examined the financial, insurance and legal challenges faced by childhood cancer survivors and their families.

The research combined several approaches. A review of 60 international scientific publications provided the foundation, while focus groups with survivors and parents explored their experiences in greater depth. A stakeholder dialogue then brought together experts and affected individuals to develop and assess recommendations for improving support systems.

The findings revealed that many families feel left to navigate the aftermath of cancer on their own once treatment ends. Parents frequently reported financial strain caused by additional expenses and changes to their employment situation. Survivors highlighted difficulties with supplementary insurance, health insurance coverage and ongoing healthcare costs. Both groups described the considerable administrative burden associated with managing the long-term consequences of childhood cancer.

From research to practical support

The study shows that the impact of childhood cancer often extends far beyond the illness itself. Better support requires not only greater awareness of these challenges but also accessible sources of information and guidance for affected families.

One of the most promising outcomes of the stakeholder dialogue was the proposal to develop targeted checklists for survivors and parents. These would bring together key information, answers to common questions and relevant points of contact for different stages of the survivorship journey. The research team is now exploring how such checklists could be developed and implemented, and which organisations and specialists could help bring them into practice.

This article is based on “Der lange Schatten von Kinderkrebs” published in the 2025 Annual Report. 

Find out more about the project: www.unilu.ch/childhood-cancer-research