HJAR Mar/Apr 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAR / APR 2024 51 Suzanne Saccente, MD Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist Arkansas Children’s • Children’s Oncology Group (COG). COG provides information and support to help children and their families in the fight against cancer. • Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators’Consortium (POETIC). POETIC is a group of 10 large academic medical centers in North America with a significant emphasis on comprehensive cancer care and research. • Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC). The NMTRC is a group of 25 universities and children’s hospitals that create a nationwide network of childhood cancer clinical trials. These trials are developing novel therapies for high-risk neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. Membership in these groups lets patients receive cutting-edge treatments and partici- pate in clinical trials. Child-centered: the intangible, essential aspect of care As healthcare providers, we must con- cern ourselves with results and the quan- tifiable factors leading to positive patient outcomes. However, especially with pedi- atric patients, it’s important to remember and include less easily measured elements linked to outcomes. The pediatric cancer care team at Arkan- sas Children’s diagnoses and treats infants, children, adolescents, and young adults and understands the long-term effects and chal- lenges caused by tumors and their treat- ments. We tailor every aspect of care to each child’s unique phase of growth and development. Lighting and projectors in the proton treatment room at the Proton Center of Ar- kansas allow patients to choose an ambient color and room theme digitally displayed on the walls and ceiling, reducing anxiety in pediatric patients. An MRI simulator helps decrease anxiety related to scans, decreas- ing the need for medications and sedation. Child-life specialists are trained to explain complex medical terminology using age- appropriate language, games, and activi- ties. Most importantly, every member of a pediatric patient’s care team is trained and experienced in delivering pediatric care in a child-friendly manner. Thriving after surviving Survivors of childhood cancer have unique long-termneeds. Aholistic approach for survivors of childhood cancer involves evaluating patients for physical, psycho- logical, social, and academic wellbeing. The THRIVE clinic at Arkansas Children’s identi- fies useful tools for helping patients succeed and achieve their full potential in life. Our team utilizes Passport for Care, a unique online platform designed for survivors of childhood cancer, to communicate with can- cer survivors and their primary care provid- ers about screening tests needed at different ages. This online tool is especially helpful when children become adults, move on with their lives, and potentially leave the state. n Arunkumar Modi,MD, is a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Arkansas Children’s and an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at the University ofArkansas for Medical Sciences.Modi is director of the blood andmarrow transplant program and bone marrow collection facility at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Suzanne Saccente, MD, is a pediatric hematologist and oncologist and the director of the THRIVE survivorship program at Arkansas Children’s and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she is the medical director of the apheresis program and the sickle cell disease program. Precision treatments for brain and central nervous system tumors Access to proton therapy, Gamma Knife radiosurgery, and IMRT benefits pediatric patients with optimization of treatment without severe long-term side effects from therapy. Proton therapy delivers radiation with precision targeting at both the proxi- mal and distal ends of the beam, which can reduce damage to organs and tissue near cancerous (or non-cancerous) tumors — es- pecially critical for pediatric patients whose bodies are still developing. Patients gener- ally require the same number of treatments as traditional radiation but experience less toxicity. Similarly, IMRT uses a linear accelerator device to deliver precise radiation doses to a tumor while minimizing the amount of ra- diation to healthy tissue. The Gamma Knife® technique is a non-invasive radiosurgery alternative to brain surgery specially engi- neered to treat delicate brain tissue. Precision therapies like these have aided patients in the state with a variety of can- cers, including type 1 and type 2 neurofi- bromatosis, schwannomatosis and tuber- ous sclerosis, a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and other organs. Access to broader networks Arkansas Children’s is a member of sev- eral groups dedicated to improving the lives of children and families living with cancer and blood disorders: • NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program) and Be The Match. This organization helps patients find matching donors quickly and provides resources for children and families throughout treatment.