Beyond The Cure
Beyond the Cure was created for survivors of childhood cancer. In today's society, the word survivor has many connotations. It conjures up images of everything from the Fox television series of the same name to Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, winning his sixth Tour de France. Today, the word survivor also represents over 270,000 adult survivors of childhood cancer.Current research indicates that over two-thirds of childhood cancer survivors experience at least one "late effect" as a result of their disease or treatment. Late effects, the results of diagnosis and treatments, can vary in severity, but may include secondary malignancies, as well as problems associated with heart, endocrine, sensory or reproductive systems. Cancer may also affect a person emotionally, developmentally, cognitively, spiritually and socially.
The growing population of childhood cancer survivors has compelled pediatric oncology professionals to realize that curing the disease is simply not enough. In order to effectively address the needs of survivors, the focus must shift to a continuum of care that lasts a lifetime.
The mission of Beyond the Cure is to help childhood cancer survivors integrate the cancer experience into their new life as survivors and successfully handle the challenges that are ahead of them and to celebrate survivorship.
Beyond the Cure is a program of The National Children's Cancer Society.
