Survive & Thrive

Late effects may occur between two to five years after completion of treatment, but other late effects may not show up until more than 10 years after treatment. The Children's Mercy Section of Oncology has created the Survive & Thrive Program to provide specialized services for childhood cancer survivors.

The Survive & Thrive Clinic is offered four times per month at the Children’s Mercy Kansas City Adele Hall Campus. A Survive & Thrive Clinic is also offered in Joplin, Missouri twice a year.

Common late effects of cancer in children:

Learning or memory issues
Emotional concerns such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety
Heart or lung problems
Growth failure, hypothyroidism, infertility
Secondary cancers

Patients who may take part in the clinic:

Diagnosed with cancer at least five years ago
Have been off therapy for at least two years
Are currently in remission
Those over 18 years of age, even if above criteria are not met so we can assist with transition of medical care

The program offers comprehensive medical and emotional care, education on late effects of cancer treatment, and recommendations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The team follows the Children’s Oncology Group’s Long-term Follow-up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancers to make recommendations for long-term monitoring for potential late effects of treatment. The program also works with survivors to prepare for transition of medical care to adult providers.

Late effects are health issues that can occur any time after treatment for childhood cancer. Many late effects occur between two to five years after completion of therapy but other late effects may not show up for many years after the treatment.

Many childhood cancer survivors and their families are not aware of the potential late effects that may occur many years after treatment. The earlier the problem is identified the sooner treatment can be started. The Survive & Thrive Clinic can help provide information about your child's health care needs to their primary care doctor, ensuring that the necessary screening will continue.

Clinical care

Complete physical exam, including any labs, x-rays or other tests that may be indicated. Medical evaluation and consultation with specialists as needed.

Psychosocial support

Clinical social work assessment and therapeutic interventions with patients and families.

Education

Summaries for families including diagnosis, treatment details, complications and late effects, individualized recommendations for follow up based on patient’s cancer history and recommendations for maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Transition of care

The Survive & Thrive team assists survivors by assessing readiness to transition and barriers to transition. Preparation for transition begins when survivors are 15-16 years old. The team works with each survivor to develop a plan for transition of care once they are 21 years old. The treatment summary and recommendations for follow up are shared with the primary care provider.

The Survive & Thrive team, in collaboration with the University of Kansas Medical Center and the Masonic Cancer Alliance, has developed the Survivorship Transition Clinic. This clinic is designed to meet the ongoing health care needs of young adult survivors who have transitioned from Children’s Mercy. A nurse navigator works jointly with the Survive & Thrive Program and the Survivorship Transition Clinic.

Survivors meet the nurse navigator before leaving the Survive & Thrive Program. The nurse navigator helps survivors navigate the new health care system and continues to meet their educational needs during visits in the Survivorship Transition Clinic. The Survivorship Transition Clinic is only one option for survivors leaving Children’s Mercy. Survivors have a choice of where to continue their follow-up care and the Survive & Thrive team will work to develop a plan that best meets each survivor’s needs.

Common late effects of cancer in children:

Patients who may take part in the clinic:

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