Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future

More than 325,000 children, teens, and adults in the United States are survivors of childhood cancer. The surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants used to cure children can affect growing bodies and developing minds. If survivors know of these potential problems, they can take steps to identify, cope with, or treat them early if they do develop.

The third edition of Childhood Cancer Survivors charts the territory for survivors by providing state-of-the-art information about: " Medical late effects from treatment " Emotional aspects of surviving cancer " Schedules for follow-up care " Challenges in the heath-care system " Lifestyle choices to maximize health " Discrimination in employment or insurance

Woven throughout the text are stories from more than 100 survivors and parents. Authors Keene, Hobbie, and Ruccione are experts in the field of childhood cancer. Keene is the mother of a survivor of childhood leukemia and the author of several books including Childhood Leukemia, Childhood Cancer, Educating the Child with Cancer, and Chemo, Craziness & Comfort. Hobbie is Associate Director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Ruccione is Co-Director of the HOPE (Hematology-Oncology Psychosocial and Education) Program in the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Nancy Keene, a well-known writer and advocate for children with cancer, is the parent of a 22-year survivor of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She is one of the founders of the nonprofit Childhood Cancer Guides, and she has written many books for families of children with cancer, including Childhood Leukemia; Your Child in the Hospital; and Chemo, Craziness, and Comfort. She co-authored Childhood Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers and Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future and edited Educating the Child with Cancer. She served as chair of the Patient Advocacy Committees of both the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) and Children's Oncology Group (COG)-- consortiums of researchers from more than 3000 institutions that treat children with cancer. Ms. Keene has been interviewed on National Public Radio about childhood cancer survivorship, frequently speaks to professional and parent groups, and has participated in online pediatric cancer support groups (www.acor.org) since they began in 1996.

Wendy Hobbie is Associate Director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the first comprehensive follow-up clinics in the United States. For more than 30 years, she has devoted her professional life to research and the clinical care of survivors of childhood cancer. Wendy is one of the editors and chapter authors of the textbook for professionals entitled Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Assessment and Management (now in its third edition). She has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on topics such as the late effects of treatment for childhood cancer, the role of the nurse practitioner in follow-up care, and risk taking and decision making by survivors of childhood cancer. She is frequently invited to present lectures to healthcare professionals, cancer survivors, and their families on a variety of cancer survivorship issues.

Kathy Ruccione is Co-Director of the HOPE (Hematology-Oncology Psychosocial and Education) Program at the Children's Hospital for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). She has been involved in the areas of late effects and survivorship for more than 25 years. Kathy established the CHLA LIFE along with its annual Survivor's Day celebrations and survivor scholarship program. Kathy is one of the editors and chapter authors of the textbook for professionals entitled Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Assessment and Management (now in its third edition). She has published and lectured extensively on topics such as transitions in care, survivorship needs, and the role of nurses in evaluation of late effects. Her personal experience as the mother of a young person with a disability has enriched her perspective and deepened her commitment to finding ways to help children and their families survive and transcend their experience with cancer.