New NCCS White Paper Prescribes Long-term Health Care for Cancer Survivors
St. Louis, Missouri (PRWEB) April 22, 2015 -- Long-term health care practices for childhood cancer survivors are the focus of a new white paper published by The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS), a nonprofit organization helping children with cancer and their families through treatment and survivorship.
The paper examines the focus of several survivor health clinics around the country, including the POST (Pediatric Oncology Survivor in Transition) program at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL. The paper also features two childhood cancer survivors who are now adults in college and handling the responsibility of managing their long-term healthcare.
“Careful attention to long-term health care is critical for childhood cancer survivors,” said Pam Gabris, R.N, coordinator of the NCCS’s Beyond the Cure program, which addresses the education and needs of pediatric cancer survivors. “There are now programs around the country helping survivors maintain medical records, schedule necessary diagnostic tests, access disability benefits if needed, and find the right doctors to deal with late effects such as endocrine problems.” A list of long-term follow-up clinics can be found on the Beyond the Cure resource page.
The NCCS paper highlights current treatments and research at some of the nation’s top medical programs dealing with survivor health care, including the POST program and the Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Pediatric endocrinologist and program chair Dr. Lillian Meacham said the clinic’s goal is to see 80 percent of survivors. Research has shown that nearly two-thirds of all childhood cancer survivors will face a chronic health condition and at least 25 percent will live with a severe, disabling or life-threatening condition.
The paper also focuses on the way two adult survivors. Caitlin Adkins and Steven Dulin, are managing their long-term health care and encouraging other childhood cancer survivors to do the same.
About the National Children’s Cancer Society
The mission of The National Children's Cancer Society is to provide emotional, financial and educational support to children with cancer, their families and survivors. To learn more about the NCCS, visit thenccs.org. For information and resources for survivors, including a Late Effects Assessment Tool and college scholarship opportunities, visit beyondthecure.org. The National Children’s Cancer Society is a 501C(3) organization that has provided more than $61 million in direct financial assistance to nearly 37,000 children with cancer.
Lori Millner, National Children's Cancer Society, http://www.thenccs.org, +1 314-241-1600 Ext: 247, [email protected]
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