Caring For A Child Or Adolescent With Cancer
A diagnosis of childhood cancer in the family can be an overwhelming time and raises many questions. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, most families feel shock and disbelief. The treatment ahead may seem frightening. Many families talk about this experience as “an emotional rollercoaster”.
Head to the family resources page to find information about childhood cancer, diagnosis and treatment, and looking after your child and family.
Finishing Treatment And Surveillance
When treatment ends, families may feel excited about the future. Completing treatment is often an anticipated and celebrated milestone. However, it may be surprising to discover mixed feelings about coming off treatment. The coming off treatment handbook and immunisation after cancer treatment has finished resources have been designed to support families when their child completes treatment.
The PICS have developed a series of booklets as a general reference guide for teachers, parents and carers to identify and address the thinking, learning and behavioural/emotional difficulties children and adolescents may experience following treatment for cancer.
Regional Shared Care
The goal of the Regional Outreach and Shared Care Program (ROSCP) is to provide care as close to home as possible, when it is safe to do so. Treatment for children within a participating regional health service remains directed by the Oncology team at either The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) or Monash Children's Hospital (MCH), under a shared care model.
The program also provides education and training to regional centres and is supported with funding by the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation.
If you would like to know more about this service or if you are eligible for this program, please speak to your child’s treating team.
* Low complexity chemotherapy only
** Includes services such as: GCSF/ Neulasta administration, IV antibiotic therapy, pain management, IV fluids and nausea/vomiting management
Click on the image below to learn more about the patient journey and an overview of what to expect when you are part of the program.
Long Term Follow-up Program
The Long Term Follow-up Program (LTFP) supports children and adolescents with cancer treatment related late effects by:
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providing a tailored medical, nursing and allied health service that is designed for your child’s needs
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helping children and adolescents and their families to transition to adult community and/or hospital services
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developing a survivorship roadmap specifically for your child to inform their future healthcare needs.
The program is available to all paediatric and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer living in Victoria. The PICS LTFP clinics are held at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Children’s Hospital, and at designated regional centres.
You can access useful information and resources about the program, survivorship and the late effects of cancer treatment via our PICS Resources and Useful Links pages.
To download the Long Term Follow-up Program Information for patients and families brochure below.
To contact the service, call 03 9345 9152
If you would like to know more about this program please contact the LTFP team at ltf.program@rch.org.au
Click on the image below to learn more about what happens after cancer treatment finishes including when patients get referred to the LTFP and what to expect when you are part of the program.
Victorian Paediatric Oncology Consumer Registry
An important way to ensure that Victorian paediatric cancer services meet the needs of children, adolescents and their families is to seek your advice on future service development and invite representatives to work with us, to design solutions.
There are many ways in which children and adolescents affected by cancer and their families can help guide and shape paediatric oncology services.
These include:
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Participate in a phone interview
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Complete a survey
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Join a group discussion or forum with other parents/patients (face-to-face or videoconference)
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Join a short-term working group with a specific focus
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Participate as a member of the hospital Parents Advisory Groups
In addition, we would like the opportunity to provide you with information that may be of interest to you from time to time. To do this, the PICS has developed the Victorian Paediatric Oncology Registry. If you would like to be on this registry, please complete the short survey via the link below, you will be asked to provide consent at the end of the survey. You can unsubscribe from this contact list at any time by contacting PICS (pics.admin@rch.org.au or telephone +61 3 9345 4433).
The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services are supported by the Victorian Government
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The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present. We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities.