The Hassenfeld Center celebrates survivors.

Today there are over 270,000 survivors of childhood cancer, and it is estimated that by the year 2010 one in every 250 young adults will be a survivor of childhood cancer. In order to meet the needs of this growing population, Hassenfeld has developed an interdisciplinary Survivorship Program that addresses the special needs of childhood cancer, leukemia, and blood disorder survivors.

Long-term follow-up patients are given individualized binders which review a patient’s therapy as well as potential long-term effects. It includes a list of psycho-social resources and a Survivor Healthcare Passport, a wallet-sized card that is a quick information guide to be used when patients need to provide their medical history. Hassenfeld provides individual consultations and group educational workshops about the long-term medical effects of treatment, particularly those of chemotherapy and radiation.

Hassenfeld patients also benefit from opportunities to meet and network with other survivors to discuss social and emotional issues such as fertility concerns, relationship issues, employment issues, cognitive effects, insurance issues, and other long-term effects issues. As part of the supportive and educational focus of the Survivorship Program, Hassenfeld survivors are encouraged to talk to our experienced staff about their unique concerns and questions. Our dedicated staff work hard to find new ways to support survivors and to complement their resilience.

Beginning in the spring of 2007 Hassenfeld is launching a special four-part survivorship workshop series in partnership with the NYU Clinical Cancer Center to address survivorship issues related to fertility, integrative medicine, emotional and spiritual well-being. Please contact Hassenfeld’s Social Work Services by calling our main number (212) 263-8400 if you are interested in participating.