Pediatric Cancer

Many adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of cancer end up "lost to follow-up," according to recent research. Nurses charged with patient education should take heed, and be sure to stress the importance of follow-up care to their AYA patients and their families.

The Canines and Childhood Cancer Study – the first and largest randomized, controlled clinical trial to measure the effects of animal-assisted therapy in the field of pediatric oncology – recently showed significant benefits to families in a time of great need.

Dasatinib (Sprycel) has been approved by the FDA to treat pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP).

The PRISM intervention improved psychosocial wellbeing in younger patients with cancer.

The FDA has approved ipilimumab (Yervoy) for the treatment of patients aged ≥ 12 years with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

By developing a training program, nurses in radiation at Johns Hopkins Hospital were able to eliminate the use of anasthesia for pediatric patients.

As the intensity of treatments for childhood cancer drop, so does the rate of severe long-term side effects in these patients.

As a young adult with cancer you may feel like a prisoner in your own world. How can nurses help this age group?

Yoga can benefit the cancer survivor both physically and emotionally.

Second primary cancers that occur in pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients are deadlier than those that occur in older patients.

New modalities of treatments for patients with Ewing sarcoma have expanded overall survival. However, there are few studies done on the long-term quality of life issues these patients may experience.

For adolescent and young adult patients with cancer, navigating social life after their diagnosis can be difficult.

Childhood cancer is a family diagnosis. Healthy siblings can often be overlooked when one child has cancer, leading to emotional issues.

From the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing: Healthy siblings of children with cancer should not be overlooked in family-centered care.

A recent study has found that the rates of colorectal cancer are rising in young adults.

For survivors of childhood cancer, survivorship programs can offer assistance for their families as much as for them.

New Awareness and Funding Campaign Aims to Transform Global Research Efforts and Accelerate Clinical Trials for Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients

Chase After a Cure is running a Thunderclap campaign on Sept. 15 and is asking people to be flashy for a good cause: awareness and funds for childhood cancers. - See more at: http://www.curetoday.com/articles/flashy-for-a-cause-raising-awareness-for-childhood-cancers#sthash.uyBvOZyJ.dpuf

Brain cancer has replaced leukemia as the leading type of cancer causing death among children.

Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD, chair of the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine and director of the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and chair of the rare tumor committee at the Children’s Oncology Group, talks about the role rare cancer research has in advancing cancer care as a whole.

Despite survivors of childhood cancer doing well, psychosocially, issues could become more apparent later in life.

Despite some advances in treatment options for patients with sarcomas, researchers are still actively seeking to improve outcomes for pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients, a group particularly impacted by this diagnosis.

​Nickhill Bhakta, MD, fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, discusses disease burden on adult survivors of pediatric cancer.

Although survivors of childhood cancer are at an increased risk of developing second cancers later in life, a recently reported study found that they are actually less likely to receive the vaccine series aimed at preventing the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is linked to a number of cancers.

Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD, chair of the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine and director of the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and chair of the rare tumor committee at the Children’s Oncology Group, discusses treating rare pediatric cancers.

James L. Klosky, PhD, director or psychological services and cancer survivorship, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, discusses HPV-related complications, including cancer, for survivors of childhood cancer.

Jennifer Levine, MD, Columbia University Medical Center, discusses the effects of early menopause on survivors of childhood cancer.

Survivors of childhood leukemia who received chemotherapy involving high concentrations of methotrexate were found to be more likely to struggle with brain functionality in the long term.

An intervention specifically aimed at reducing the trauma and anxiety that often comes with parenting a child undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant proved especially helpful for parents during the time of the actual transplant and subsequent hospitalization.