H.O.P.E. Clinic: Providing Support and Education to Childhood Cancer Survivors
from Practice Update, Summer 2005
The Children’s Hospital H.O.P.E. Clinic was created in 1987 to provide support and education to childhood cancer survivors of all ages. The clinic was one of the first in the country dedicated to treating long-term pediatric cancer survivors. H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Oncology Patients Excel. Pediatric cancer survivor clinics are becoming more and more prevalent as the cure rate for pediatric cancer continues to grow. In the 1960s the cure rate for childhood leukemia was around five percent. Today, it is more than seventy five percent! With the increased survival rates there is a growing population of patients with late effects from their diagnosis or treatment received. Late effects can include: heart and lung problems, hormone disorders, secondary cancers, learning disabilities, decreased self esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder and infertility.
Since 1987, the clinic has treated more than 400 survivors through a multidisciplinary clinic tailored to the patient and the type of treatment he/she received. Brian Greffe, MD, H.O.P.E. Clinic Medical Director explains, “we are focused on helping each survivor live the healthiest life possible.” Goals of the clinic are:
- To identify and address any potential late effects that may have resulted from diagnosis and/or treatment
- To provide education about chemotherapy and radiation therapy received
- To provide guidance on leading a healthy lifestyle as a childhood cancer survivor
- To make available the many resources for childhood cancer survivors
Patients eligible for The Children’s Hospital H.O.P.E Clinic include childhood cancer survivors diagnosed between the ages of 0-18 years of age who are five or more years past diagnosis and two or more years off therapy. Each patient is seen by a multidisciplinary clinic team including; oncologist/physician’s assistant, clinic nurse coordinator, social worker, dietician and a neuropsychologist. Additional specialists are available by appointment based on each individual patient’s need and treatment received.
The clinic is designed as a consultative service to provide recommendations to pediatric cancer survivors for the future objective of leading a healthy lifestyle cancer free. If patients are seen as children they are generally asked to return in two to five years when they are adolescents for additional follow up, while adolescents and adults are often seen only once in the clinic.
The H.O.P.E. Clinic is held two times a month at The Children’s Hospital. It is held the third Thursday of the month for oncology patients and the fourth Thursday of the month for bone marrow transplant patients. Visits to the clinic take approximately three hours in order to allow time for the multidisciplinary team to educate the patient and allow time for questions about the past illness and the future. Any labs, x-rays or additional tests will be scheduled in the morning, prior to the clinic visit. Starting in August, 2005 the H.O.P.E. Clinic will also be held in a satellite location in Grand Junction, Colorado . The outreach clinic will have a similar set up to the clinic held at the downtown campus and will include a multidisciplinary treatment team. To learn more about the H.O.P.E. Clinic at either location, please contact the H.O.P.E. Clinic Coordinator, at The Children's Hospital at 720-777-1234.
