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Hematology & Oncology

Location:

Zone B, Level 1

Paediatric Medical Day Unit
Children’s Hospital
800 Commissioners Rd. East
London, ON

Directions and Parking:

Driving Directions to Children's Hospital.

Park in Visitor Parking Garage P8 located on the west side of the hospital. This lot is accessible at the Baseline Road entrance.

Contact:

Telephone: 519-685-8500 ext. 57396

Contents


Our Program

For over 30 years, Children's Hospital has provided family-centred care to children with cancer.

The childhood cancer program is designed to meet the needs of children and their families through a holistic approach.

The childhood cancer program (also referred to as the paediatric oncology program) strives to provide high quality, family-centred care to allow children
to not only survive their illness but also to sustain normal growth and development and family unity.

What We Do

We work with other health care teams at Children’s Hospital to help with special concerns for children with cancer and their families:

Medical consultation, diagnosis and disease management

  • Coordination of care across inpatient, outpatient and home settings
  • Expanded nursing support
  • Radiation therapy
  • General surgery
  • Neurosurgery
  • Neuropsychological assessment
  • Support of family and professional caregivers
  • Art Therapy
  • Child Life programs
  • School reintegration
  • Patient Outcome/Continuous Improvement Activities
  • Satellite clinics in Kitchener and Windsor
  • Aftercare clinic program in collaboration with the Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
  • Clinical trials participation in provincial and international networks

Our Team

Name
Title / Specialty
Dr. Lawrence Jardine Hematologist/Oncologist
Dr. Elizabeth Cairney Hematologist/Oncologist
Dr. Shayna Zelcer Hematologist/Oncologist
Dr. Paul Gibson Hematologist/Oncologist
Dr. Alexandra Zorzi Hematologist/Oncologist
Dr. Serina Patel Hemotologist/Oncologist
Dr. Cathy Maan

Psychologist

Dr. Andrea Downie Neuropsychologist
Dr. Danielle Cataudella Psychologist
Lorraine Janzen Psychometrist
Ann Klinck Psychological Associate (School Liaison)
Anne Chambers Nurse Practitioner
Mary Jo Decourcy Nurse Practitioner
Margaret Warden Interlink Nurse
Deborah Dewbury Langley Child Life Specialist
Melissa Zurch Child Life Specialist
Gillian Yealland Art Therapist
Todd Wharton Art Therapist
Veronica Sweet Art Therapist
Karina Charczuk Music Therapist
Ollie Pale Therapeutic Clown
Cindy Milne-Wren Social Worker
Jessica Mackenzie Social Worker
Angela Dodge Dietitian
Sarah Leppington Nurse Case Manager
Julie Dowler Nurse Case Manager
Meghan Reid Nurse Case Manager
Mary Anne Wilson-Sprague Nurse Case Manager
Diana Masse Nurse Case Manager
Karen Nethercott AfterCare Nurse Case Manager
Lori Otte AfterCare Successful Academic & Vocational Transition Initiative (SAVTI) Counsellor

 

What to Expect

You and your child have just learned he or she may have cancer. You may be feeling different emotions like anger, fear or anxiety. As a parent, it is natural to feel concerned or worried. It’s important to keep a positive attitude. Follow the advice of your healthcare team, and talk to your child and entire family. Speaking openly with your child helps build trust. Some things you and your child may expect, include:

Diagnosing Cancer

Your child may have an X-ray and a CT scan to determine if he has cancer. He may also be scheduled for a biopsy, a surgical procedure to remove and examine tissue from a tumor. You might meet with an oncologist, a doctor who works with cancer patients. The oncologist will tell you if your child has cancer or not. It’s important to know that many kids who get cancer can be treated and cured.

Cancer Treatments

Common cancer treatments include chemotherapy, which means getting anti-cancer drugs through an IV, and radiation, which means powerful energy waves (like X-rays) are used to kill cancer cells. Surgery also might be done to remove tumors. In some cases, such as leukemia, a bone marrow or stem cell transplant might be done to help you be healthy again.

Hair Loss

Most people think about cancer when they see a child who is bald. Cancer does not cause hair to fall out, but the powerful drugs and treatments used to kill cancer cells (chemotherapy and radiation) kill the cells that make hair grow, too. A child getting chemotherapy may lose a lot of hair quickly, but the hair will grow back when the treatment is stopped.

Bravery Beads Program

Children and adolescents treated for cancer at the Children’s Hospital are invited to participate in the Bravery Beads Program.

Children receive a “starter necklace” which includes a string and beads to spell their name.

They can then collect beads to acknowledge the many experiences they face over the course of treatment. Each child can create a unique necklace of beads, with each bead representing different elements of the treatment process.

Beads are available in the Paediatric Medical Day Unit and on Paediatric Inpatients.

We hope that the Bravery Beads Program helps our children and adolescents overcome the many challenges they face during the course of treatment.

We hope the necklace also provides a positive keepsake of their journey through cancer treatment at Children’s Hospital.

Tips on Helping Your Child

Here are some tips to help your child feel safer about his upcoming visit:

  • Listen to your child.
  • Be honest about what will happen and what may hurt.
  • Use short, simple terms they know.
  • Reassure them that if something hurts, there are ways to help the pain, including medicine, relaxation, listening to music and playing games.
  • Use one of their stuffed animals to show what will happen and encourage him to ask questions and talk about his fears.
  • Reassure them that having to go to the hospital does not mean he has done something wrong.

Resources & Links

Sibling and Parent Bereavement Groups Offered through Paed. Psychology, LHSC

Helping Schools Cope with Childhood Cancer

Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario POGO

Childcan Support for Families Local Support Group for Families

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada

Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders  Research

Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation for Teens Support for teens wiht cancer and their families

Children's Oncology Group

Survivorship Guidelines Long Term Follow Up Guidelines for Survivors

Look Good Feel Better Helping Teens with Cancer

Cure Search Support and Resources for Childhood Cancer Families

Gold Ribbon - Campaign for Childhood Cancer Awareness

Camp Trillium Ontario Camp for kids with cancer AND their families

Camp Oochigeas Camp for children with cancer

Make A Wish for Southwestern Ontario

The Sunshine Foundation Dreams for Kids

Children's Wish Canada Wishes in Action

Coast to Coast Against Cancer

Ewings Cancer Foundation of Canada Ewings Sarcoma Support

Neuroblastoma Canada