Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Practical Guide to Your Future

More than 250,000 children, teens, and adults are presently survivors of childhood cancer, which is cause for celebration. These long-term survivors of childhood cancer face a unique future. Some will encounter insurance and employment challenges, some will have emotional challenges, and some will have ongoing health problems related to treatment. Authors Keene, Hobbie, and Ruccione chart the territory of long-term survivorship:

Emotions and relationships Transition from pediatric to adult careOvercoming discrimination in employment or insuranceLifestyle choices that maximize healthSchedules of follow-up care and possible medical late effects Record-keeper of medical history The stories of over one hundred survivors and parents--with a wide range of issues and triumphs--are included.

Wendy Hobbie is one the editors and chapter authors of Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Assessment and Management. She has published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals on topics such as the late effects of treatment of childhood cancer, the role of the nurse practitioner in follow-up care, and risk taking and decision making of survivors of childhood cancer. She is frequently invited to lecture health care professionals, cancer survivors and their families on a variety of cancer survivorship issues. Wendy Hobbie is the Associate Director of the Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Pennsylvania and the Coordinator of the Follow-Up Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. During the past 15 years, Wendy has devoted her professional life to the follow-up and treatment of survivors of childhood cancer and their families. Through education, Wendy has empowered survivors with the knowledge to advocate for themselves in the health care system and society. Wendy lives with her husband and two children, Jonathan and Sarah, in Philadelphia.

Nancy Keene has written or co-authored five health books for families. She is co-creator of the Patient-Centered Guides series and Editor of pediatric titles. Nancy is a tireless advocate for childrens health issues, including pediatric clinical trials, childhood cancer, late effects of childhood cancer treatments, pediatric pain relief, and emotional support for families. She frequently speaks for professional and parent groups and works on/with national pediatric advocacy organizations and committees.

Kathy Ruccione is the Nursing Administrator in the Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Her particular interests are in three areas: preparing patients and families to be informed participants in their care; the long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors; and the epidemiology and genetics of childhood cancer. She has published extensively and is frequently invited to speak on these topics. Kathy has lived in Southern California most of her life. She is the mother of one child, Daniel, who is now 12 years old. Living with Daniel, who is profoundly deaf, has brought many new challenges and opened new worlds. Her personal experience as a mother of a child with a disability has enriched her perspective and deepened her commitment to finding ways to help children and their families survive and transcend the experience with cancer.