VOA标准英语2009年-Many Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancers

By Melinda Smith
Washington
01 October 2009

 
Child with cancer
A childhood cancer foundation based in the U.S. estimates that 160,000 children around the world are diagnosed each year with cancer. The odds¹ of survival are better in developed countries than elsewhere. But a large scale study of patients in North America who are living into adulthood² shows that many are not getting the follow-up medical exams they need.

As a child with leukemia, Kelly Krauel was told incorrectly the chemotherapy and radiation she endured would prevent her from having a family of her own. That was just the beginning of what lay ahead as she grew older.

"I was diagnosed with skin cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer," Cancer survivor³ Kelly Krauel, explains.

Now scientists believe the toxic⁴ chemicals that helped fight the cancer more than two decades ago may have contributed to a higher risk of health problems later on.

The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study began in 1993 to study medical treatment of children diagnosed with cancer between 1970 and 1986. According to the National Cancer Institute, the late effects of chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer medicine from that period now range from premature⁵ menopause, and stroke to secondary cancers.

Kelly Krauel is now screened for cancer on a regular basis. 

But as many as 90 percent of the cancer survivors⁶ in the study had not had a routine colonoscopy, 75 percent had never had a skin cancer examination and 50 percent of women had not had a mammogram. 

Cancers of the colon⁷, rectum, breast and skin have been linked to the amount of radiation treatment given to children in this period.

Dr. Aziza Shad of Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center says follow-up exams can be critical. "Maybe you can't alter the course of what is going to happen, but you can make it more bearable: early detection, prevention and care," he said.

The researchers stress the importance of a continuing relationship with a doctor after the young cancer survivor reaches adulthood.

Matthew Grossman was first diagnosed with a brain tumor⁸ four years ago. He is free of cancer for now, but is diligent⁹ about checkups. "It's really an ongoing¹⁰ battle that never really ends," Matthew said.

The coordinators of the National Cancer Institute study say cancer treatment for children has improved greatly in the last two decades. 

The scientists are hoping that evaluations¹¹ of children treated in this later period will provide a more optimistic prognosis.

1 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

2 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

3 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

4 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

5 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

6 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

7 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

8 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

9 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 evaluations   

估价( evaluation的名词复数 )； 赋值； 估计价值； [医学]诊断

参考例句：

• In fact, our moral evaluations are merely expressions of our desires. 事实上，我们的道德评价只是我们欲望的表达形式。 来自哲学部分
• Properly speaking, however, these evaluations and insights are not within the concept of official notice. 但准确地讲，这些评估和深远见识并未包括在官方通知概念里。