Dying after cure : a case of suicide in an adolescent treated for cancer

Although suicide among childhood cancer survivors is rare, there is still a significantly higher risk in this population than in healthy adolescents. A 17-year-old girl cured of Burkitt lymphoma committed suicide after completing her treatment. She had never previously shown signs of psychological suffering and was in good general health. This case made the operators wonder how this tragic possibility might be prevented. It is essential for the ongoing monitoring of the psychological and social suffering of young people during follow-up programs to be assured by a multidisciplinary team involved in the patient's global care.