Nearly 90 percent of children with cancer will survive into adulthood. However, 60 percent of the children, adolescents and young adults who have been cured of cancer may be affected for months or years by their disease or the treatment they received. Children’s Minnesota Cancer Survivor Program monitors cancer survivors for late effects of cancer and treatment, addresses any problems that may occur and provides recommendations for future screening and follow-up to manage health risks. This information can then be shared with their primary care or other providers.
Our goal is to keep survivors of cancer healthy and to educate them about their health risks.
Any survivor of childhood cancer, regardless of age or where they were treated during childhood, is encouraged to visit annually.
If you were treated for cancer at Children’s Minnesota, you will receive a letter from us inviting you to schedule a survivor clinic appointment with the clinic’s nurse practitioner or physician. Appointments take at least one hour, possibly longer depending on tests needed.
Patients are encouraged to make appointments annually. Referrals to other specialties may be made as needed.
- Review cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Review medical history, hospitalizations and complications during treatment
- Review of each chemotherapy drug and dosage, including potential side effects and indications for monitoring and/or treating.
- Routine physical exam and review of lab work and other tests.
- Answer questions about cancer and its treatment, plus explanation of any special risks from treatment.
- Information about health risk behaviors related to treatment (i.e., anthracycline and lifting weights, binge drinking and smoking)
- Fertility assessment and resources
- Self-breast or testicular exam instruction
- Advice and assistance with psychosocial, insurance or financial concerns
- Advice and assistance with school or job concerns
- Information about current or ongoing research studies that test new treatments for late effects
- Optimal health recommendations for follow-up, including nutrition, exercise, sleep and healthy behavior
- Summary of the visit and any treatment recommendations
Passport for Care® Survivor
Passport for Care is an application developed by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) to address the healthcare information needs of children and young adult survivors of cancer in the U.S. It’s used by over 130 childhood cancer centers around the country including Children’s Minnesota.
The Passport for Care (PFC) Survivor is an online resource for survivors of childhood cancer. After your first follow up visit and completing the online enrollment for Passport for Care, you can– anytime, anywhere – securely access:
- Your cancer treatment summary
- Your follow-up care recommendations
- Tips on how to best look for any late effects of your treatment
- Printable summary and follow up guide for any of your doctors
- Health links to help you learn about potential late effects of your treatment
Contact us
If you are a family member, parent, or patient looking for a Children’s Minnesota hematologist or oncologist or wanting to schedule an appointment, please call our clinic at 612-813-5940.