This study examined whether experience of cancer in childhood leaves a
hypersensitivity to various somatic symptoms. Further, are self-repor
ted somatic symptoms explained by medical late-effects or a worry of r
ecurrence of the cancer? Methods: Of the total of 44 female survivors
of leukaemia, 42 were compared with 69 age-matched healthy controls. W
e used a questionnaire to study self reported somatic symptoms and a f
ace-to-face interview to explore worries about recurrence of the illne
ss. Health status and medical late effects were evaluated by a paediat
ric haematologist. Results: In contrast to our assumptions, young surv
ivors of leukaemia reported fewer somatic symptoms than healthy age-ma
tched comparison subjects (p < 0.001). Late physical sequelae were unc
ommon except in the survivors of allogeneic bone marrow transplantatio
n. Of the survivors, 52% were afraid of recurrence of the illness. The
presence of physical or visible impairment and worry of recurrence we
re unrelated to frequency of somatic symptoms. Conclusions: The result
s suggest that experience of childhood leukaemia and its treatment doe
s not result in increased somatic concerns or hypochondriacal tendenci
es.