Young Enduring Survivors (YES) Clinic (photo by Barry Staver)

  By Courtney Smith, HSC University Communication Intern
Linda Butros, M.D. (photo credit - Barry Staver)

Survival of pediatric cancer has improved dramatically over the past 35 years. But, for these children, surviving cancer treatment is only the beginning. Later in life, as many as half of the survivors of childhood cancer have, or are likely to develop, treatment related diseases and disabilities.

To ensure that pediatric cancer survivors were not falling through the cracks post therapy, Linda Butros, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics at University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH), developed a program that would reach out to childhood cancer survivors and continue patient care. The Young Enduring Survivors (YES) Clinic provides an opportunity for the survivor to better understand what they have experienced and to be well-informed about their future.

According to Butros, director of the YES Clinic, children are often able to tolerate the immediate side effects of cancer treatment better than adults, but are more vulnerable to problems that may emerge in later years as a result of their treatment.

The YES Clinic is an active effort to address the specific needs of childhood cancer survivors.
Linda Butros, M.D.

“These young, growing patients may develop hormone deficits, abnormal bone growth, decreased muscle mass, sterility, and hearing loss, in addition to a long list of late occurring complications. The YES Clinic is an active effort to address the specific needs of childhood cancer survivors,” says Butros.

The clinic, which opened in February 2005, has provided evaluations for more than 100 patients to date. Patients who have been off therapy for at least two years are contacted by letter and invited to visit the clinic for a comprehensive screening to address specific health risks, healthy life styles, insurance issues, and other topics based on individual risk factors.

A team of specialists works directly with the YES Clinic patients. Each patient receives a comprehensive binder detailing their diagnosis, medications, surgeries, radiation exposure and treatment complications. Additional information containing Internet and other health resources, brochures about fertility, breast/testicular exams, smoking risks, and healthy lifestyles is also provided. The team determines any physical, psychological or neuropsychological limitations for each patient and helps them identify resources for appropriate care.

“Our goal is to improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors through risk-assessment information and screening and for them to clearly understand the impact of their disease and treatment,” says Butros.

The YES Clinic at UNMH continues to address the needs of childhood cancer survivors and is the only program of its kind in the state.


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