New collaboration seeks to improve the lives of children living with cancer

TORONTO, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cancer Society and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) today announced that they have joined forces to improve the quality of outcomes for children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer and their families.

The Society is investing $1 million in funding to establish the Pediatric Cancer Outcomes Initiative with POGO. With the Society's commitment to funding excellent, leading-edge cancer research and POGO's expertise in the delivery of childhood cancer care and control, the new initiative has great potential for impact and should very soon have an important impact.

"This is an exciting collaboration that combines the strength of two leading organizations committed to improving the quality of outcomes for childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families," says Martin Kabat, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division.

"It is critical that we continually seek ways in which to improve the outcomes and provide better futures for all children with cancer, from the point of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond," says Dr. Mark Greenberg, Medical Director and Chair in Childhood Cancer and Control, POGO. "This research collaboration aims to do just that and, ultimately, reduce the burden of cancer on kids and their families."

"As the mother of a child who has undergone a life-changing cancer diagnosis and treatment, I have concerns about the late effects of treatment and how it will play on his future challenges, and welcome this investment into improving the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors," says Lori Taraba, of Niagara Falls, whose son, now 12, was treated for High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was just 10 months old.

More children and young people are surviving cancer than ever before. However, because of the aggressive treatment they have received, child, adolescent and young adult survivors of cancer may face lifelong challenges including physical, developmental, behavioral, economic, reproductive and psychosocial issues.

The initiative focuses on four key areas of research:

• Development of a unique platform for future research on childhood cancer outcomes and late effects, through the addition of treatment and outcome information for children treated from 1985 to 1994 to the POGONIS database.
• A grant competition supporting high quality research projects that will form the basis for innovative interventions to improve the outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer and their families.
• An in-depth analysis of the incidence, outcomes and determinants of those outcomes in adolescents and young adults with cancer in Ontario; a largely understudied population that experiences many unique treatment and care-related issues.
• A comprehensive evaluation of survivor information needs to equip survivors with the resources and information needed to make informed decisions about their future health. The Passport to Health (a personalized resource containing the complete history of a survivor's cancer journey, including treatment information) is a key component of this evaluation.

About the Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society is the leading charitable funder of childhood cancer research in Canada: in the last five years alone the Society has invested more than $25 million in childhood cancer research. The Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people for living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

About the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO)

Founded in 1983, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario is a leader in developing exemplary and highly coordinated systems of childhood cancer care and control, and is the official advisor to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on these issues. Through healthcare innovation, survivor care, financial assistance for families, population data, policy development, research and education, POGO has created a highly integrated and seamless pediatric cancer system that supports children and families.  Because cancer-free doesn't mean the end of the journey, POGO is there from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. For more information, please visit www.pogo.ca.

For further information:

or to arrange an interview:

Christine Koserski
Senior Coordinator, Public Affairs, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division
[phone] or [email protected]

Jacqui DeBique
Communications & Knowledge Transfer Manager
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
[phone] ext. 266 or [email protected]