Due to the incredible success rates in treating pediatric patients, about 80 percent of children and young adults with cancer will survive. These childhood cancer survivors require specialized long-term, follow-up care.
Did You Know?
- One in 640 young adults in the United States is a survivor of pediatric cancer.
- Approximately two-thirds of the childhood cancer surviors have at least one chronic health problem.
- Learn more.
We know it is important every child who wins his battle against pediatric cancer has access to cancer survivorship services designed to optimize health and quality of life. Long-term and late effects of cancer or its treatment can occur at the time of treatment or can first appear many years after treatment ends. These effects include physical, psychological and social issues, such as:
- Learning disabilities
- Vision and hearing problems
- Diseases of the heart, blood vessels and lungs
- Growth and physical maturity complications
It is critical for all cancer survivors to be monitored long-term for late effects of cancer treatment and supported throughout their lifetime.
Cancer Survivorship Program Goals
Pediatric cancer centers in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah have come together to form the Georgia Pediatric Alliance for Cancer Survivors (GPACS).
GPACS goals include:
- Ensuring every person in Georgia who has been treated for pediatric cancer is evaluated for late effects.
- Educating pediatric cancer survivors and their families about the risks of cancer treatment, how to optimize their health and how to achieve a better quality of life.
- Raising awareness among healthcare providers of theneed for lifelong, follow-up care for cancer survivors.
- Conducting research to better understand how to help survivors today and prevent late effects in childhood cancer survivors in the future.
To help achieve our goals, we believe each childhood cancer survivor needs: