November 3, 2008
‘Childhood Cancer in Montana’ Symposium is November 6
The state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and the Montana Cancer Control Coalition is sponsoring a symposium on Childhood Cancer in Montana on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
St. Peter’s Hospital is hosting the event, which will take place in the St. Peter’s Hospital Education Center in Helena. The event is free and open to the public.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Russ Geyer, a pediatric oncologist from the Seattle Children’s Hospital, who will speak on ‘Treatment Standards for Children’ from 9:20 to 10 a.m.
Other topics include long-term effects of childhood cancer treatment, genetic factors influencing childhood cancer, and diagnosis and treatment issues for children, said Nicole Smith, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program health education specialist for DPHHS. This symposium will help educate both the general community and Montana physicians on the specifics of childhood cancer.
According to Smith, the standard of care for children with cancer is treatment at an accredited center that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer. These centers are staffed by pediatric oncologists and a large team of other board-certified specialists with pediatric expertise, including surgeons, radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, psychologists, rehabilitation therapists, and physical therapists.
There are also team members who provide support for families. In addition to providing access to a large staff of experts in childhood cancer, these specialty centers offer access to state-of-the-art therapies and clinical trials.
Today, more than 90 percent of United States children with cancer are treated at accredited pediatric specialty facilities. This specialized treatment has resulted in improved survival and quality of life for childhood cancer patients.
States with small populations such as Montana have correspondingly small numbers of childhood cancers: an average of 45 newly diagnosed cases per year and an average of five deaths. “These numbers do not support a pediatric cancer center in Montana, so children are referred to one of several centers in major cities in surrounding states,” Smith explained. “This ensures that children receive the best possible care, but also increases the burden for families caring for children with cancer.”
Kim Kaiser of Billings experienced that first hand. Kaiser’s daughter, Rylie, was diagnosed with Leukemia at age three and was treated at the Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Now 10 years old, Rylie is cancer free and thriving. The Kaisers will tell their personal story of cancer survival at the end of the symposium from 10:55 to 11:15 a.m.
For more information call Smith at 406-444-6089.
