In Victoria,
approximately 200 children and adolescents (under 17 years old) are diagnosed
with a malignant cancer each year. With advances in treatments, survival rates
for childhood cancer have improved dramatically over the last few decades, with
overall 5 year relative survival currently at 83%.
There is
increasing evidence that a significant proportion of survivors of childhood
cancer will experience health problems later in life as a result of their
disease and/or treatment. To meet the needs of childhood cancer survivors, the
Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS) established the state-wide Long
Term Follow-up Program. This program provides survivors with structured early
intervention screening assessments that focus on early recognition of health
and developmental concerns, delivering personalised treatment and surveillance
plans. Part of this program includes supported transition from the paediatric setting
to adult and community based health services for continued follow-up into
adulthood.
PICS has
developed a series of eight eLearning modules on survivorship and the
importance of lifelong follow-up for patients treated for childhood and
adolescent cancer. The series includes an overview of late complications and
the need for long term follow-up care, information on the PICS Long Term
Follow-up Program, and discipline specific late complications information
related to fertility, clinical neuropsychology, nutrition, endocrinology,
radiotherapy and social work.
These modules
can be found on the PICS website https://pics.org.au/health-professionals/professional-development/elearning/late-complications/
To learn more
about the PICS Long Term Follow-up Program visit https://pics.org.au/health-professionals/long-term-follow-up-program/ or contact the program on ltf.program@rch.org.au
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