Reaching milestones
After the Cancer Experience program goes beyond treatment
Angelica Hernandez had just turned 3 years old when a potent, but familiar illness reared its ugly head.
For the fourth time in one year, Angelica's face developed a pale yellow complexion and small red dots appeared on her body.
Suspecting that her daughter's symptoms could be something serious, Angelica's mother, Minerva Borjon, brought her daughter to the Emergency Center at Children's. The hospital's staff quickly recognized the signs of cancer and rushed Angelica in for testing.
Borjon's worst fears were confirmed as her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and immediately placed in the care of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's.
"Obviously, I was devastated, but I took some comfort in knowing that Angelica would be treated in one of the best cancer centers in the entire country," Ms. Borjon said.
Long-term survival
After intensive treatment under the care of Dr. Patrick Leavey, an oncologist at Children's and associate professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern, Angelica has been cancer-free for more than four years. She continues with follow-up visits as part of the CCBD's After the Cancer Experience (ACE) program, which provides long-term monitoring for children, adolescents and young adult survivors of childhood cancer.
For patients like Angelica, joining the ACE program is a welcomed milestone. Enrollment into the nationally recognized program means the patient has been disease-free and off therapy for at least two years.
"Due to significant advances in childhood cancer therapy, nearly 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer will become long-term cancer survivors," Dr. Bowers said.
A leader in the field
Founded in 1989, the ACE Program at Children's was one of the first long-term follow-up programs for childhood cancer survivors in the United States. At present, the ACE program follows more than 1,400 childhood cancer survivors at both Children's and the Young Adult Program through the department of Family Practice at UT Southwestern Medical Center, which survivors enter when they reach age 18.
Some of the more frequently recognized late effects of childhood cancer survivors include second cancers, growth impairment, osteoporosis, scoliosis, cognitive deficits, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, infertility, premature menopause, obesity, hearing loss, kidney failure, hormone deficiencies and hepatitis.
"By studying the long-term effects of cancer treatment and following these patients for years after their treatment, we can learn the causes of these side effects and find possible solutions to minimizing their impact in cancer survivors," Dr. Bowers said.
As for Angelica, she was treated with anthracycline chemotherapy, so she will need to get her heart checked every five years. Her life is progressing normally and her mother couldn't be more thankful.
"These people have been angels to my daughter," Borjon said. "They helped save my daughter's life and they're doing all they can to keep her healthy from here on out. Children's has been a God-send for our family."
Resources
Angelica Hernandez is a talented artist who loves to draw, and the After the Cancer Experience Program at Children's ensures she is able to continue pursuing her passion.
