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Pediatric Oncology Hematology Network

The BC Provincial Pediatric Oncology Hematology Network is an integrated, multidisciplinary organization of health-care professionals.
About

The network operates under the guidance of BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Cancer Agency.

The network supports community hospitals and practitioners, and develops partnerships with other health care facilities to enable seamless and integrated care for patients on treatment and off treatment and their families.

Mission

To reduce the burden of cancer and blood disorders in children and adolescents living in BC.

Goals

To ensure all children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders have access to state-of-the-art comprehensive, interdisciplinary care, achieved through appropriate diagnosis, management, follow-up and end-of-life care. 

To make a significant contribution to the global care of children with cancer or blood disorders and blood and marrow transplant. 

To enhance the quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders and their families. 

To develop a partnership with other health care facilities to enable integrated care to children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders and their families throughout the province. 

To support community hospitals and practitioners to enable them to provide care for chemotherapy treatment and its complications, palliative and end-of-life care, and long term follow-up. 

To further develop and enhance the research programs of basic, translational, and clinical research that is world-class. 

To participate in clinical trials as the standard of care for children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders and further the research and education mandate. 

To provide an outstanding educational program for health care professionals. 

To develop and implement a comprehensive cancer control strategy.

Activities


The steering committee has identified the key activities to support the Network’s main functions. This is a summary of the ongoing activities for each network working group.

Relationship with Government

Aim:  To obtain recognition that the Network is the official advisor to the regional health authorities and the Ministry of Health on matters pertaining to pediatric cancer and allied hematological conditions

Care for Survivors

Aim:  To address the need for comprehensive long term follow-up care for survivors of childhood cancer

Actions:  The unique issues associated with survivors of childhood cancer requires special attention.  In partnership with BC Cancer Agency, a Late Effects, Assessment & Follow-Up (LEAF) Clinic has been established in July 2016 for adults who have survived childhood cancer. Please visit the LEAF clinic website for further information. For guidelines developed by BCCH, please visit Long Term Follow-up Guidelines

Community Care

Aim:  To support community hospitals and practitioners and develop a partnership with other health care facilities to enable integrated care to children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders and their families throughout the province


Actions: 

Psychosocial Care:  The Network has activated a psychosocial working group to identify existing resources for children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders and their families in the local communities and to address the gaps in service.

Palliative Care: The palliation and end-of-life care working group assess care needs in communities, identify educational needs for professionals, address resource allocation, and identify areas of research.  Norms of practice and guidelines for palliation and end-of-life care have been developed.  BC Children's Hospital offers an Advanced Symptom & Palliative Care service that assists children and families who are living with progressive, life-threatening diseases and the health care professionals caring for them. This service supports both inpatients and outpatients.  

Cancer Control

Aim:  To develop and implement a comprehensive cancer control strategy for children and adolescents as part of the BC Cancer Agency cancer control strategy

Actions:

  • Continue enhancement of the Pediatric Cancer Registry
  • Obtain a comprehensive database for management, data collection, historical and projected analysis
  • Reactivate pediatric tumour group

Research

Aim:  To further develop and enhance the research programs of basic, translational and clinical research that are world class and make a significant contribution to the global care of children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders.

Actions:  The participation in clinical trials will continue to be a high priority. The Network will, in particular, seek to collaborate clinical and outcome research at Children’s and the BC Cancer Agency in AYA (Adolescent to Young Adults) to improve treatment outcomes.

Childhood Cancer & Blood Research Group: In the Childhood Childhood Cancer & Blood Research Group, clinicians and scientists work together to conduct research that improves the lives of children and young adults with cancer and/or blood disorders, and those undergoing transplantation. 

Personnel

 0.5 FTE Medical Consultant (since 2002)                                                0.5 FTE Network Coordinator (since 2003)


Newsletters

Newsletters

The Network produces newsletters twice a year for health care providers in the communities.

Fall 2022

  • Meet the Blood & Bone Marrow Transplant Team

Fall 2021

  • Meet the New Members of the Heme Team
  • COG KidsCare App

Fall 2019

  • CAR-T Cells and Therapy Explained

Winter 2019

  • Family Immunization Clinic
  • Meet the Nurse Clinicians

Spring 2018

  • The new Teck Acute Care Centre at BC Children's Hospital

Winter 2017

  • Pediatric Hereditary Cancer
  • Vaccination in Kids with Cancer

Spring 2017 

  • Staying Present: Mindfulness in Health Care
  • Patient/Parent Advocate - Oncology/Hematology/BMT Program

Winter 2016

  • Pediatric Sarcomas: Diagnosis and Management
  • Late Effects Assessment and Follow-up (LEAF) Clinic opens for adult survivors of childhood cancer

Spring 2016

  • Updates in Pediatric Fever and Neutropenia at BC Children's Hospital
  • Clinical Trials in Pediatric Oncology

Winter 2015 

  • Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant

Winter 2014 

  • An update for Low and Average Risk B-Cell precursor Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
  • Commonly Used Chemotherapeutic Agents in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Spring 2014 

  • Apheresis Program
  • Approach to therapy in High Risk Neuroblastoma
  • Sickle Cell Disease: Pediatric Care in BC

Winter 2013

  • 10th Anniversary of the Pediatric Oncology Hematology Network
  • Pediatric Oncology Clinics in BC

Summer 2013

  • Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with Cancer
  • Finding Our Way with Adolescents with Cancer
  • Miminal Residual Disease Teating in Children with Leukemia at BC Children's Hospital

Winter 2012 

  • Childhood Cancer and Blood Research Group (CCBR)
  • Focus on Clinical Research
  • Targeting the Seeds of Cancer Relapse
  • One Disease Different Faces
  • Banking on the Future
  • Nanaimo Pediatric Oncology Services

Spring 2012 

  • Surgery of Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas in Children
  • Vincristine Neuropathy in Children Diagnosed with Cancer:  The Role of Rehabilitation
  • Physical Activity in Pediatric Cancer Survivors
  • From Hospital to Home:  The Role of Occupational Therapy in Pediatric Oncology

Winter 2011 

  • Neuro-Oncology (Brain Tumours) 

Spring 2011 

  • Children's Oncology Group (COG) & International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP)
  • The Role of Nursing in Clinical Trials through COG
  • Prince George Pediatric Oncology Services
  • Camp Goodtimes

Fall 2010 

  • Late Effects of Childhood Cancer
  • Report of Educational Outcomes in Childhood Cancer Survivors
  • Off Treatment, And End and a Beginning
  • Transition and Follow Up of Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Fall 2009  

  • Nutritional Supportive Care

Winter 2008 

  • Transfusion Practice in Pediatric Oncology/Hematology
  • What Happens When There is a Suspected Transfusion Reaction?

Spring 2008 

  • Pediatric Acute Leukemia in 2008: Where We Are and a Look to the Future
  • Siblings of Children with Cancer

Spring 2007 

  • Complications and Toxicities from Chemotherapeutic Agents Commonly Given in the Community
  • Adverse Events in Pediatric Oncology - The GATC Cancer Study

Fall 2006 
Pediatric Toolbox: A Guide for Common Challenges in Childhood Cancer:

  • Explaining Cancer and Other Terminology to Children
  • Helping Children Manage Pain
  • Helping Children Face Needles
  • Helping Children Take Medication

Summer 2006 

  • Brain Tumours in Children
  • New Febrile Neutropenia Protocol

Summer 2005 

  • Advances in Hemophilia Care in British Columbia

Spring 2005 

  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children
  • Immunization in Oncology/Hematology Patients and Families
  • Empiric Antibiotic Protocol for Fever and Neutropenia

Fall 2004 

  • Pediatric Palliative Care in British Columbia

Spring 2004 

  • Transitioning Survivors of Childhood Cancer to Adult Health Care

Fall 2003 

  • Introducing the Provincial Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Network

 



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