Life After Cancer

Cancer ... it is a small word that carries a huge weight. The stress involved is not limited to just diagnosis and treatment, but also issues that can last a lifetime. Cancer can leave physical and emotional scars and a new normal after treatment that is filled with hope and sometimes anxiety over the after effects. The Life After Cancer Program (LACP) is a survivorship program designed to address the myriad of concerns that come up with related medical, psychological and social problems after treatment is completed. In the last 20 years, more than 2,500 cancer survivors have received treatment at Cook Children’s in our program. We provide a yearly comprehensive clinic visit that includes a detailed physical exam, review of a personalized treatment summary, review and monitoring of late effects, psychosocial support and education on health and wellness.

Our team involves the experience of pediatric Hematologist/Oncologists, advanced practice providers, a social worker, nurse, educator, Child Life and dietitian. Our goal is to provide medical care, education and lifestyle interventions to enhance lives. We actively participate in local, national and international research endeavors to learn more about cancer survivors and ways to promote health.

The Life After Cancer Program at Cook Children's is here to help ensure the survivor and family have the support they need to enjoy a full and rewarding life after Hematologic or Oncologic treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and stem cell transplant.

Who we are

The LACP team works to help childhood, adolescent and young adult survivors by providing long-term medical and emotional support, education and resources to help them adjust to new changes in their lives now and in the future. The program is designed as a long-term follow-up program for patients who are at minimum two years past completion of therapy. The program is led by Donald Beam, M.D., Sommer Mims, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, and support services are provided by a team nurse and social worker.

What we do

The Life After Cancer Survivorship Program is a comprehensive survivorship program dedicated to address late effects which children, adolescents and young adults may experience as a result of hematologic or oncologic treatment.

The survivorship program was the first non-academic program funded by the Livestrong Foundation. Services provided through the Life After Cancer Program include:

Thorough medical history and physical assessments
Psychosocial assessments by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Counseling services
- Social work services
- Educational, financial and vocational counseling
- Resources for college
Guidance and support for young adult survivors transitioning from pediatric to adult services
Consultations in survivorship including the following pediatric specialties with Cook Children's and the adult community: Neurosciences, Cardiology, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Dermatology and others
Collaboration with other survivor centers, professional organizations nationally and community programs to ensure quality survivor care is provided to our patients and the community at large
Research initiatives to:
- Improve the health and health-related quality of life for survivors
- Successful transition to survivorship and to adult services
- Encourage optimal cancer prevention and screening behaviors

The focus of LACP is to ensure that survivors of oncologic and hematologic therapies undergo appropriate monitoring and follow-up, relevant to their original diagnosis and therapy. The ultimate goal is that they become independent adults able to advocate for their own health care. Each patient receives a comprehensive treatment and follow-up summary with nationally approved current guidelines of care.

Focus on the future

The Cook Children's Life After Cancer Program contributes actively to clinical research through its participation in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). The CCSS came into existence in the early 1990's, and has generated more important research than any other organization in describing the late effects and quality of life for survivors of childhood cancer.

The CCSS is a National Cancer Institute funded resource designed to systematically evaluate a large group of cancer survivors as they progress into adulthood and their later years. Cook Children's potential value to this effort has been acknowledged, as well as our early success in tracing and recruiting several hundred potential candidates from among our survivor population.

We currently participate in several late effects and investigation developed research studies and play an active role for clinicians and other health investigators to conduct studies and provide leadership and educational opportunities on behalf of the CCSS at Cook Children's

Events

Camp O'Hana

The LACP team organizes an annual family retreat for school-age and adolescent survivors (6-17 years) and their families.
Visit Camp O'Hana

Camp Mak-A-Dream

Camp Mak-A-Dream provides cost-free, medically-supervised, Montana experience, in an intimate community setting for young adults affected by cancer. Cook Children's sponsors a trip for young adults to attend Camp Mak-A-Dream's Young Adult Conference (ages 18-28) each May.
Visit Camp Mak-A-Dream

Call our social worker at 682-885-2164 for more information on the Life After Cancer Program and events.

Resources

In an effort to enhance general knowledge of survivorship issues, the LACP team is also committed to clinical research through both nursing initiatives as well as those undertaken by the large national Childhood Cancer Survivor Study of which the LACP team was granted membership in 2000.

Clinical trial forms and documents can use a lot of words that you might not understand. Below are some helpful website links to help you learn more about these terms.

Projects

Continued to provide survivorship care in outlying clinics (Abilene, San Angelo, Midland, Waco and Prosper).
Development of low cost limited echocardiogram guideline in collaboration with LACP/Cardiology/billing services to increase access for no insurance or high cost burden families who otherwise have not been able to get recommended echo surveillance.

We are here to help.

If your child has been diagnosed, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. If you would like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 682-885-6152.