Nevada’s First “Long Term Follow Up” Program
Benefits Childhood Cancer Survivors
Medical Screenings Aimed At Keeping Childhood Cancer Survivors Healthy
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, the state’s only nonprofit organization providing medical treatment to children diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening conditions, now offers Nevada’s first dedicated health program to meet the unique medical needs of childhood cancer survivors.
The chemotherapy, radiation and surgery which brought about cancer remission can also result in late effects years after remission. The Long Term Follow Up (LTFU) program provides childhood cancer survivors personalized health screenings and a plan to compensate and monitor for any side effects of cancer treatment.
“With the advances in research and treatments, more children are winning the fight against childhood cancer, however, for many children the fight does not end with remission, it continues on in the form of late or long-term effects,” said Annette Logan, President and Executive Director of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation.
In addition to health screenings, the LTFU program also includes the creation of a Passport for Care®. It stores a patient’s cancer therapy history and possible late effects with the intention it be shared with medical professionals who may be unaware of the patient’s early childhood cancer diagnosis.
Originally developed by Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine, the Passport for Care® is now an initiative of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a collection of the nation’s best oncology providers and treatment centers. COG believes the best way to keep childhood cancer survivors healthy far into the future is to continuously monitor their health as adults.
Studies have shown most Americans change primary care doctors every two years. Primary care providers, however, are often unfamiliar with the details of a patient’s prior cancer treatment or the recommendations to assess for long-term complications of cancer and cancer therapies. Even some patients, depending on their age at diagnosis, may be unfamiliar with specifics of their own cancer treatment.
The Passport for Care® Survivor Portal gives the survivor direct and secure access to their treatment history, possible long-term complications, and medical recommendations for the patient based on their disease. The patient can share the specific medical information with any medical provider who will incorporate risks into future medical treatments.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Oncology Group both suggest ongoing comprehensive follow up care is the only way to help screen childhood cancer patients for a variety of long-term, therapy related complications.
Because Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide appropriate care to all children facing life threatening conditions, no child is ever turned away from receiving appropriate care. Childhood cancer survivors who may have difficulty paying for care through the Long Term Follow Up program will also receive services regardless of ability to pay.
The Long Term Follow Up program is currently available through the Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada – Las Vegas clinic. Like all programs currently available in Las Vegas, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is working to eventually offer identical services in the Reno clinic.
To make an appointment with the Long Term Follow Up program, childhood cancer survivors can call (702) 732-3330 to speak with the new patient coordinator. Jennifer Buitrago, RN, MSN, CPNP and CPON is the program coordinator.
Additional information can be found: http://cure4thekids.org/long-term-follow-up/