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The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Recognized as a 'Fertile Hope Center of Excellence'

Posted on: Monday, 23 February 2009, 14:10 CST

The Cancer Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Recognized for Educating Patients About Cancer-Related Infertility

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is the first pediatric hospital to be designated a Fertile Hope Center of Excellence. The Cancer Center at Children's Hospital leads the nation in fertility preservation for pediatric patients diagnosed with cancer.

The first of its kind in the nation, the Cancer Survivorship Program is an integral part of Children's Hospital's Cancer Center. A multi-disciplinary team of experts offer fertility preservation options to both prepubertal and pubertal males and females. Each fertility preservation option has been researched extensively, and results provide the cornerstone of clinical practice.

"Now that nearly 80 percent of children survive cancer, our goal is to maximize their quality of life," said Jill Ginsberg, M.D., director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Cancer Center. "Before research showed otherwise, the perception was that pediatric cancer patients and their families could not cope with making decisions about fertility preservation on the heels of diagnosis. We now know that is not the case."

Ginsberg added, "We are proud to have been recognized for our efforts by being designated a Fertile Hope Center of Excellence."

A nonprofit organization that helps cancer patients faced with infertility, Fertile Hope has designed its Center of Excellence Program to ensure that all age-appropriate cancer patients are informed of their fertility risks before undergoing treatment.

"Children's Hospital's hands-on approach to meeting their pediatric patient's fertility concerns as well as their practical needs exemplifies the type of commitment that Fertile Hope's COE program was designed to recognize," said Lindsay Beck, founder and executive director of Fertile Hope. "We applaud the leadership of Dr. Ginsberg, who has worked for years to implement these systems at the Cancer Center at Children's Hospital."

To qualify as a Fertile Hope Center of Excellence, cancer centers must demonstrate that:

• All people of reproductive age who are treated for cancer are given complete information about their reproductive risks and options for preserving fertility before cancer treatment is initiated
• Educational resources are available for healthcare professionals, patients and survivors
• Referrals are provided to appropriate specialists for fertility preservation and/or parenthood after cancer

In addition, it is preferred that a center demonstrate that research on cancer-related infertility, pregnancy after cancer and/or parenthood after cancer is underway.

Established in 1983, the Cancer Survivorship Program at Children's Hospital's Cancer Center was the first of its kind in the nation to care for and track long-term survivors of childhood cancer. The Cancer Survivorship Program team is a leader in identifying, treating and preventing the late effects of cancer treatment. Because of their pioneering role in studying and addressing the special needs of survivors of childhood cancer, team members have been instrumental in changing medical practice and modifying cancer treatments to reduce long-term adverse effects.

About The Cancer Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia cares for more children with cancer than any other general pediatric hospital in the United States. Its large basic and clinical research programs are particularly strong in pediatric neuro-oncology, neuroblastoma, leukemia and lymphoma, sarcomas and cancer survivorship. Of all pediatric institutions, Children's Hospital enrolls the most patients in national clinical trials, working in close collaboration with national organizations such as the Children's Oncology Group. Physicians at Children's Hospital have had pioneering roles in developing international standards for diagnosing and treating neuroblastoma, and in developing programs for survivors of childhood cancer.

About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.

Media Contact: Rachel Salis-Silverman 267-426-6063 Salis@email.chop.edu

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Source: PR Newswire

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