Happily, about 80% of children who have cancer survive their disease. Yet it's sometimes after treatment that cancer survivors find themselves facing unique physical and emotional challenges. The reality is that cancer and its treatment can have serious long term effects on health that are sometimes not evident until later in life.
After Cancer Care Ends, Survivorship Starts (ACCESS) is our follow-up program for childhood cancer survivors and their families. We offer ACCESS services to childhood cancer survivors of any age who are at least two years out of treatment, regardless of where they received cancer treatment. Our goal is to keep survivors healthy over the long term by providing clinical care and education about future health risks.
ACCESS services include:
- A comprehensive review of the survivor's medical and cancer history, assessment of medical and psychosocial needs and recommendations for follow-up care
- Ongoing evaluations and coordination of care, including referrals to social, community and medical resources
- An individualized notebook that contains the survivor's treatment summary, recommendations for monitoring and details on long term health risks
- Education and consultation for health care providers about survivors' risks and needs
- Up-to-date cancer and health related information and resources for the survivor and their family or other support people
- Guidance as the survivor transitions from pediatric to adult health care
- The opportunity to participate in research studies about medical and psychosocial issues for long-term survivors
- The chance to network with other childhood cancer survivors and their families
For more information about ACCESS, please contact Karen Wilkinson, nurse practitioner coordinator, at 206-987-4752.