Emmanuel Cancer Foundation | Serving New Jersey's Children ...



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updated 11/3/2017

GENERAL INFORMATION

As you contact resources on behalf of families, you may become aware of updates or changes such as a different contact person, telephone number, or website. You may also discover that a resource is no longer available. Please notify the Managing Director of any changes so that this information can be shared with all Caseworkers, and this manual can be revised accordingly.

BEFORE CONTACTING A RESOURCE

Please be mindful of your working relationship with hospital social workers as you advocate for your families. Remember that it is ECF policy to regard the hospital person as the primary case manager, and they are often the referral source for our families. You should check with them before contacting other agencies for assistance, in order to prevent duplication of services and you should remain in contact with them regarding your work with families, providing the family has signed a release.

Over the years this policy has evolved because we've learned that it is in the best interest of our families to do so. Working together, the ECF Caseworker and the hospital staff are able to provide a comprehensive package of support to those we serve. Of course, if the child is no longer in active treatment, or the hospital social worker is not involved, this does not apply.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About Cancer page 3

Resources page 9

Hospital Social Workers page 22

Hospital Based Programs page 25

Wish Organizations page 26

Camps and Recreational Resources page 27

Air Travel Resources page 28

Pharmaceutical Resources page 29

Public/Other Assistance page 30

ABOUT CANCER

Cancer is actually a group of diseases, each with its own name, its own treatment and its own chances of control or cure. It occurs when a particular cell of group of cells begins to multiply and grow uncontrollably crowding out the normal cells. Cancer may take the form of leukemia, which develops from the white blood cells or solid tumors found in any part of the body. Despite considerable and continuing research, no one knows why children get cancer. Some common misconceptions about cancer are addressed below.

1. So far as scientists have been able to determine, nothing you or your child did or didn’t do caused the disease. Cancer in children is still a largely unexplained disease and there is no evidence that you could have prevented it.

2. Few cases of childhood cancer are due to genetic (inherited) factors.

3. In almost all cases of childhood cancer, its appearance in one child does not mean that a brother or sister is more likely to develop it.

4. Cancer is not contagious. It cannot be spread from person to person like a cold or from an animal to a person

5. No food or food additive has been implicated as a cause of any childhood cancer.

LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and develops in the bone marrow, the body tissue that produces red blood cells. The bone marrow is a jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the bones.

The bone marrow makes 3 kinds of cells”

1. Red Blood Cells (erythrocytes) that give the blood its red color. These cells pick up oxygen and carry it to the tissues. They are also known as RBC’s.

2. Platelets (thrombocytes) help stop bleeding if there is an injury.

3. White Blood Cells (leukocytes) fight infections. They are also known as WBC’s. Leukemia develops in these cells. In leukemia, certain white blood cells escape the normal control mechanisms that direct their maturing. Instead of aging so they are able to assume certain functions, they remain young and continue to multiply. This can happen to any of the three main kinds of WBC’s:

a. Neutrphils, which eat bacteria

b. Lymphocytes, which make substances to fight bacteria

c. Monocytes, which destroy foreign material

In speaking about Leukemia, “blast” is the short name used for lymphoblasts, the immature white blood cells. There are normal blasts and leukemia blasts. Normally, blasts compose ................
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