Childhood Cancer Facts

"Cancer Centers for Children"

Description:

• Children's cancer centers are hospitals that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children and adolescents. Most children's, or pediatric, cancer centers treat adolescents up to the age of 21.

What standards are there for children's cancer centers?

• Following groups have established guidelines for children's cancer centers or programs:
  
  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) and the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) are networks of children's cancer centers that meet strict quality assurance standards.
  
  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published guidelines for the Pediatric Cancer Center and role of such centers in diagnosis and treatment in 1986 and 1997.
  
  The American Society of pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPH/O) established standard requirements for programs treating children with cancer and blood disorders.
  
  The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association set institutional selection criteria, based on the CCG and POG standards, for its Blue Quality Centers for Pediatric Cancer.
  
  All four groups specify that a center of excellence in childhood cancer be staffed by: trained pediatric oncologists and a variety specialists who work as a team.

Survival Rate:

• Studies show that children's survival rates are 20-40% better if their cancer care is coordinated by pediatric oncologists and delivered at comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer centers that follow established protocols. These centers participate in specially designed and monitored research studies that will help develop more effective treatments and address issues of long-term childhood cancer survival.

Children's Cancer Centers benefit the entire family.

• The diagnosis of childhood cancer is a "family diagnosis". Parents must quickly adapt to new ways of dealing with their child's illness both physically and emotionally. Children's Cancer Centers often encompass a variety of support services such as; Child Life Program, Art & Music Therapy, Family Resource Center, a variety of support groups and patient services, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychological services. These services are designed to assist the patient and the family through the devastating impacts of childhood cancer in their lives.