2024 Survivorship Champion's Prize
Our Survivorship Program, led by Dr. Smita Dandekar, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Survivorship Champion's Prize by The Stewart Initiative for Childhood Cancer Survivors.
The Children’s Cancer Cause Survivorship Champion’s Prize is an annual award presented to a group, program, or institution making significant advances in programs and services to provide life-long health maintenance for survivors of pediatric cancers. The selection committee lauded this program for its model of healthcare transitions to long-term care after treatment, engagement of primary care providers, use of telemedicine, and its large rural outreach area.
Thriving after Childhood Cancer
The mission of the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic is to educate survivors about the possible late effects that may occur as a result of the therapy they received and monitor them closely for these effects. Appointments are available for ongoing, annual care, as well as single consultations.
Understanding the Survivorship Clinic
Who is eligible?
Eligible individuals must have completed therapy at least two years before joining the Survivorship Clinic.
What to expect
What happens during a visit to the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic?
In this multidisciplinary clinic, survivors meet with a physician, survivorship clinic coordinator, social worker, neuropsychologist and cancer genetic counselor. Visits include:
- Personalized education about the survivor’s cancer therapy and risk for late effects. Survivors receive an individualized treatment summary outlining total chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and other interventions during treatment.
- Evaluation for late effects by a physician. Each survivor is assessed for potential long-term complications that may affect the individual’s quality of life or predispose him or her to future health risks. Appropriate coordination of care with additional specialists is made, if necessary. Each survivor also receives a customized plan for long-term follow-up and surveillance testing to monitor risk-based late effects.
- Meeting with the social worker to discuss school, work, behavioral, emotional, relationship or financial concerns, health insurance questions and survivorship resources.
- Assessment by neuropsychologist for any neurocognitive late effects from previous treatments.
- Meeting with a cancer genetic counselor to help identify whether or not a survivor's cancer may be associated with an inherited cancer syndrome and facilitate genetic testing when indicated. The genetic counselor will obtain family history information and discuss the benefits and limitations of genetic testing.
What is a late effect?
Late effects can create challenges for various aspects of growth, development, and organ functions include:
- Bone health
- Dental health
- Emotional health
- Fertility
- Heart health
- Kidney health
- Learning
- Liver health
- Lung health
- Thyroid health
- Vision and hearing
This growing population of long-term survivors is at risk for adverse effects related to their cancer and subsequent therapy. These adverse effects, known as late effects, may not become apparent until years later. Approximately two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors experience at least one late effect.
Transition to adult care
Once a survivor reaches age 30, he or she moves from the Survivorship Clinic to an adult primary care physician, and the team provides a packet to the new physician to ensure an easy transition.
Resources for Adolescents and Young Adults
A number of resources are available to adolescents and young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer or had a loved one with cancer.
Events
- Stupid Cancer Meetups (Jan. 6) - this social gathering is for the adolescent and young adult community. Connect online with other patients, survivors, caregivers, and professionals to build lasting friendships with people who share your experiences. These aren’t support groups, but a space to have fun and connect with your peers without stigma or awkward questions. Click here to register for Stupid Cancer Meetups
- My Life Matters Perkatory: Pathways to Hope (Jan 8) - this virtual event is an expansion of the MY LIFE Matters Magazine series of publications, Elephants and Tea and the Tigerlily Foundation are excited to introduce a virtual magazine launch event series called MY LIFE Matters Perkatory. Each virtual Perkatory event will celebrate the release of the new magazine and highlight the featured topic of that specific issue. At each event, featured authors from the magazine will read their editorial aloud followed by open discussion and group support. Click here to register for My Life Matters
- Bright Spot Network Virtual Group for Cancer Survivors (Jan. 12) -while your family and friends have moved on, survivorship can be full of managing long-lasting side effects from cancer treatment and anxiety around recurrence, many survivors still feel in the thick of it. Come talk to other parents in conversation about the fears, challenges, and successful coping strategies associated with parenting through survivorship. Click here to register for Bright Spot NetworkVirtual Group
- You’re Not Crazy: Cancer and Mental Health Workshop (Jan. 16) - this virtual workshop is offered through Bright Spot Network, and hosted in partnership with Smith Center and Hope Connections. Many cancer survivors feel like their family and friends don’t understand and that they aren’t sure how to make sense of their identity after cancer. This workshop provides information on the prevalence of mental and emotional health issues among cancer survivors, normalizes the experiences, and offers tools and resources for coping. Click here to register for the You're Not Crazy Workshop
- Breathe Now Couples Retreat (Mar. 20 - Mar. 24, Oct. 23 - Oct. 27) – Dear Jack Foundation will be holding Breathe Now Couples retreats in Chester NY. These retreats are four days of wellness that target young adult survivors (age 21-39 years old) and their partners who are one to three years off treatment. Registrations for the March retreat close on Jan. 10. Click here to apply for these wellness retreats
- CancerCon (Aug. 21- 2) - CancerCon is a gathering for adolescents and young adult cancer community. Each year, CancerCon brings together hundreds of patients, survivors, advocates, and health professionals to learn, share, and build community. Click here to register for CancerCon
Local Support and Supportive Opportunities
Websites, Podcasts and Apps
- Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer
- Cactus Society
- Cancer Exercise App (ISO only)
- Cancer.gov (National Cancer Institute)
- Critical Mass: The Young Adult
- Elephants and Tea
- Life on Pause Podcast
- Managing Mental Health After A Cancer Diagnosis (Georgetown University School of Nursing)
- Stupid Cancer
- Teen Cancer America
- The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
- Young Adult Cancer Connection: Meet your cell mates
- Young Survival Coalition
Scholarships for Pediatric Cancer Survivors
A number of organizations offer college scholarships for pediatric cancer survivors. Explore individual scholarships, scholarship directories and other resources here.
Scholarship Guide
There are several scholarship opportunities for you to consider. Scholarships are available for individuals in current treatment, cancer survivors and family members that have been affected by cancer.
Making the Right Transition into College
Transitioning into college can be difficult for any student, but as a childhood cancer survivor, this transition can be even more of a challenge.
Resources
- Affordable Colleges Online: Article regarding helpful resources for cancer survivors.
- American Cancer Society: Resource searches based on diagnosis.
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): Extensive list of resources for scholarships and other financial information, as well as reliable information on disease and survivorship.
- Livestrong: Extensive resources for financial, fertility, education, health, etc.
- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship: Information on employment rights, etc.
- PA Career Link: Job training resources, resume writing, other helpful counseling regarding employment.
- PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR): Provides employment and training assistance to patients who have experienced significant health events and/or disabilities.
- Stupid Cancer: Financial assistance lists for college scholarships and daily living expenses.
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Enforces Federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. These laws protect you against employment discrimination.
Meet the Survivorship Team
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Smita Dandekar, MD
Survivorship Clinic Director and PhysicianDr. Smita Dandekar was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and moved to Mumbai, India, when she was 5 years old. After graduating from Grant Medical College medical school there, she moved to New York City, where she lived for 10 years. She settled in Pennsylvania in 2013.
Dr. Dandekar and her husband have two girls who keep them on their toes. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places. She loves to dance and is trained in Bharatnatyam, a classical Indian dance. In her spare time – which she says doesn’t come often with two young kids – she likes to unwind with a good book. Dr. Dandekar loves to paint and has won several national-level art competitions, something that she hopes to spend more time on when her kids get older.
She considers her role as a director of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic to be one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. Dr. Dandekar recognizes that each survivor has a unique story and enjoys seeing children and young adults embrace survivorship and take the leap beyond childhood cancer
Biography -
Alana McNeill, PhD
Survivorship Clinic Pediatric NeuropsychologistAlana McNeill provides brief screening assessments as well as comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for pediatric cancer and brain tumor patients throughout their treatment and survivorship. Neuropsychologists look at the effects of cancer on the brain, such as attention and memory. Identifying these issues can help with access to special educational services.
Since joining Penn State Health in 2019, Alana has focused on increasing patients’ access to neuropsychological services. She helps families learn about the benefits of neuropsychological evaluations, which can guide recommendations after treatment as patients get back to daily life, including returning to school.
Alana earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. She completed her predoctoral internship in pediatric neuropsychology/pediatric psychology, as well as her postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology, at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.
In her free time, Alana enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, crafting and gardening.
Biography -
Christina Toepke, CRNP
Survivorship Clinic Nurse PractitionerChristina Toepke is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Thomas Jefferson University and holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing as well as a master’s degree in pediatric nurse practitioner studies.
She started working at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in the inpatient hematology/oncology unit after graduating from nursing school in 2012. Her initial plan was to try it out because she was uncertain about the position, but she quickly fell in love with her patients and their families. She now serves as the nurse practitioner for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Survivorship Program. She loves the mission of the clinic as well as being able to celebrate huge milestones with all survivors.
She has two young children who keep her and her husband very busy! In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family, traveling, and rooting for her favorite home teams (Go Eagles, Go Phillies!)
Biography -
Nina Baccafuri
Survivorship Clinic Genetic CounselorNina Buccafuri was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Philadelphia University in 2016. She is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University, with a Master’s Degree in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling. Nina started with Penn State Health in July 2024 and looks forward to the opportunity to provide genetic counseling and testing services to pediatric cancer survivors as the pediatric hematology/oncology genetic counselor.
Nina enjoys watching her favorite teams play (Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, Penn State) with her husband and listening to sports talk radio. She and her husband have a Bernese Mountain dog named Moose. In her free time, Nina likes spending time at the beach and doing jigsaw puzzles.
Biography -
Meredith Noel, MSW
Survivorship Clinic Social WorkerMeredith Noel is a 2004 graduate of Susquehanna University and obtained her master's degree in social work from Adelphi University in 2008. She was born and raised in New York and has resided in central Pennsylvania since 2008. Meredith started with Penn State Health in July 2024 and is very excited to be part of the survivorship team.
In her free time, Meredith enjoys spending time with family, vacationing on the Jersey shore, listening to music, and attending concerts. She often volunteers at her son’s school and his various sports programs.
Meredith is eager to connect with patients and their families by providing psychosocial support, assistance in navigating the medical system, and advocacy for the educational/vocational needs of cancer survivors and their families.
Biography -
Rowena Sheils, BSN, RN
Survivorship Clinic Nurse CoordinatorRowena Sheils was born and raised in the Philippines. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at St. Paul University. She moved to El Paso, Texas, in 1990, before arriving in Pennsylvania in 2008.
She is married, has a son and a daughter who are both Penn State alumni. In her free time, Rowena enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading and gardening.
Rowena considers herself privileged to be the Survivorship Program nurse coordinator and says, “The survivors and their families are the bravest people I know.”
Biography
Support the Survivorship Clinic
The Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinic at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is funded through Four Diamonds.
Since its creation in 1972, Four Diamonds has helped nearly 4,000 children and families and supported a diverse platform of childhood cancer research at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, seeking improved treatments and cures to benefit kids around the world.
The Four Diamonds mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.
Four Diamonds covers 100 percent of all medical expenses related to cancer care not covered by insurance for eligible Four Diamonds children. Because of the community’s steady and generous support, Four Diamonds has assisted 100 percent of the childhood cancer patients who have been treated at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
