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Cancer care for children has improved dramatically in the last 40 years. Prior to the 1970s, childhood cancer was often a fatal diagnosis. Now, thanks to advances in cancer treatments, about 80 percent of pediatric cancer patients can expect to be cured of their cancer and grow into to adulthood.
Unfortunately, the intensive treatments needed to cure children of their cancers can have significant effects on their physical and emotional health later in life. Full story »
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Other stories we’ve been reading:
• The Washington Post reports on an interactive Web site from Microsoft Corp that employs the same triage calculations used by clinicians at Emory University to help determine when patients under 12 should see a doctor about their flu symptoms.
• A study led by Nina S. Kadan-Lottick, MD, MSPH, FAAP, of the Yale Cancer Center, shows that nearly 50 percent of childhood cancer survivors never marry.
• The Boston Globe finds that many Massachusetts hospitals are increasing their focus on the patient experience by offering more amenities such as free wireless service, flat screen TVs and a greater number of private rooms.
• WebMD reports on a new survey from the September issue of Pediatrics which shows that a majority of parents don’t know how to properly determine their child’s correct height and weight based on the growth charts provided by their pediatricians.
• Yahoo News reports on the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) findings that schools are making slight improvements in limiting some types of junk food available on school property, just not all junk food. Full story »
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By Kendal Temple, RN, a nurse in Children’s Hematology/Oncology Program
After a long absence due to cancer, it can be hard for young patients to return to school–especially if they look different or can’t play the way they used to. Although most of the time they’re thrilled to be going back to school and seeing their friends, many children are also nervous. To help these kids during the transition, Children’s developed the Back to School program. A nurse and a Child Life specialist visit the patient’s school and educate the classmates on what the patient has been going through. By creating a place where classmates can ask questions and air concerns, these visits help alleviate anxiety and encourage the sensitivity of everyone at school.
This past year, I worked with RJ Agostinelli, a vivacious young man who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, at age 11. He missed seven months of elementary school while having chemotherapy. Full story »
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After RJ Agostinelli was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the white blood cells, he missed seven months of school.
Having weathered chemotherapy like a champ, the vivacious 12-year-old writes about what it was like returning to his class after a long absence.
Also, watch a video of RJ’s first day back at school.
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