September Is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 27 Aug 2009 - 2:00 PST

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While rare, pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children younger than 15, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 10,700 children nationwide will be diagnosed with cancer this year. However the prognosis for these youngsters is not as poor as it used to be. The five-year survival rate for children with cancer is 80 percent, which is up from 50 percent in the early 1970s. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss the latest in comprehensive treatment, research, and service offerings for this unique population during the month of September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Along with cutting-edge treatment, pediatric cancer patients at CINJ have access to unique services. For instance, a state-accredited classroom setting is available, providing educational support to children from pre-school through high school.

As survivorship rates for pediatric cancer patients continue to improve, follow-up care has become especially important to a young patient's continued journey through life. That is why The Valerie Fund/CINJ Long-term, Information, Treatment effects and Evaluation (LITE) Program, was developed at CINJ to address specific needs of this growing population. The program enables survivors of childhood cancer to experience the best quality of life by addressing their individual late effects and providing them necessary support, education, and intervention.

CINJ experts available for comment include:

Richard Drachtman, MD, interim division chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, CINJ; professor of pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. His expertise/research interests include pediatric oncology, hematology, sickle cell disease and newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies in New Jersey.

Dawn Carey, RN, MSN, CPON, APNC, pediatric nurse practitioner, CINJ; coordinator, The Valerie Fund/CINJ LITE Program. Ms. Carey can discuss the unique needs of cancer patients as the enter adulthood and how The Valerie Fund/CINJ LITE Program addresses these concerns.

Christine Call-Sternberg, counselor, patient management liaison and director of the Pediatric Oncology Palliative Care Program at CINJ. Ms. Call-Sternberg is responsible for initiating the classroom educational program at CINJ and can discuss its benefits to pediatric patients.

Anita Norman, teacher, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology program at CINJ. Norman, who has dual certification in special education (grades K - 12) and elementary education, has been teaching in the classroom at CINJ for the past 13 years. Ms. Norman can discuss how she works with a student's family and home school district in order to tailor classroom curriculum to fit the needs of the child during cancer treatment.

Source: Cancer Institute of New Jersey