UH Rainbow center empowers survivors of childhood cancer
John Letterio, MD,
Director, Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer, Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
The news is encouraging: About 80 percent of children who are treated for cancer survive. But there is a caveat: two-thirds of young cancer survivors eventually develop at least one long-term medical, cognitive, educational or behavioral problem as a result of cancer or its treatment.
To help patients and their families successfully navigate through cancer survivorship, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital created the Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer. UH Rainbow is a leader in innovative oncology services and is the primary pediatric affiliate of University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center now University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“We do not want the consequences of cancer or its treatment to inhibit a child’s ability to flourish,” says John Letterio, MD, Director of the Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer, and Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
“The Center is a continuation of patients’ survivorship journey that enables them to benefit from the UH Rainbow family of services,” says Katherine Leigh Josie, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer and the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
Time Will Tell
Patients at the Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer range from 10-year-olds who were diagnosed with cancer as babies to 30-year-olds who were treated for cancer as teenagers.
Late effects of childhood cancer typically take years or even decades to develop, depending on the type of cancer, the child’s age at diagnosis, and method of treatment.
“Previously, there were few standards in place for long-term survivors, but pediatric cancer care has evolved and now we have clear guidelines for effective post-therapy follow-up testing,” says Dr. Letterio.
Past, Present and Future
Patients who arrive at the Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer receive a history summarizing their previous care and treatment.
To pinpoint their current health, patients are evaluated by a team of pediatric oncology, psychology, nursing, social work, child life, physical therapy, nutrition, fertility preservation and sports medicine specialists. This comprehensive team designs a customized plan that provides survivors with appropriate services for their unique physical, emotional and educational needs.
“At the Center, we acknowledge that while significant strides have been made for children with cancer, there is also a tremendous obligation to limit their long-term complications and to empower them to thrive as survivors,” says Dr. Letterio.