Dawn Carey, RN, on Caring for Childhood Cancer Survivors

Dawn M. Carey RN, MSN, APN, LITE Program Coordinator, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, discusses caring for childhood cancer survivors.

The main goal for childhood cancer survivors is maintaining follow-up care, since long-term side effects can vary greatly depending on previous treatment, Carey says.

The LITE program provides long-term evaluation, support, and health education for the growing population of childhood cancer survivors. Two physicians, a nurse practitioner, a social worker and a dietician meet with each patient at each visit.

Carey says for their first visit, the survivors receive a binder that explains late effects and a card with information about their disease and all the previous treatment they received. These resources help patients to become better educated and become better advocates for themselves.