Helping Childhood Cancer Survivors Thrive
| Patient Stories |
Meet Timothy and read about his remarkable fight against Leukemia.
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| Cancer Survivorship Facts |
- One in 300 Americans is diagnosed with cancer before age 20
- At least 75% of those patients become long-term survivors
- One in 450 young adults is a childhood cancer survivor
- Almost two-thirds of survivors will have at least one chronic health condition because of their cancer or its treatment
- One-third of cancer survivors may have a serious or life-threatening medical condition
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The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) 5+ Cancer Survivor Center provides specialized medical care and psychosocial support to childhood cancer survivors — continuously and without interruption through adulthood. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center established the program 20 years ago as one of the first of its kind in the country.
Greatly expanded in the past five years, the Cancer Survivor Center today cares for over 1,000 children and adult survivors, who range in age from 5 to 60 years old.
The Cancer Survivor Center is designed for people who were diagnosed with a pediatric cancer at least five years ago and completed treatment for their cancer at least two years ago.
Patients remain under the care of their primary care physician, returning to our clinic annually for a thorough evaluation, risk assessments and referrals for medical treatment and other services. Patients seen in our clinic do not need to have been treated for cancer at Cincinnati Children's.
As medical advances help more and more people to survive cancer, the need for long-term care and research to improve outcomes also grows. The effects of disease and treatment on the body can create later health problems, including an increased risk for heart, lung and kidney disease, intellectual challenges, fertility issues or secondary cancers.
The clinic's experienced team of doctors, nurses and other health professionals is dedicated to helping childhood cancer survivors thrive by:
- Taking a comprehensive look at their medical history and current health concerns
- Conducting annual health screenings and risk assessments
- Coordinating medical care to address any late effects of cancer treatment, functional impairments and quality of life issues
- Educating patients about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Helping patients transition from pediatric care providers to adult care providers
- Serving as an educational resource for community physicians, patients and families
Adult Care
We provide care for adults as well as children through our partnership with Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital in Cincinnati.
Karen Burns, MD, MS, serves as the director of the Cancer Survivor Center clinic at Cincinnati Children's.
Rajaram Nagarajan, MD, MS, directs the Cancer Control and Outcomes Research Initiative.
The center is made possible through generous financial support from the Association of Tennis Professionals.
