'Closer to home'- New hospital programs bring childhood cancer care to northwestern Ontario

Childhood cancer care is becoming more accessible to families in northwestern Ontario with the launch of two new programs at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. 

For years, families in the region have had to travel to the Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) for the majority of childhood cancer treatments. The expanded Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Satellite Clinic and the POGO Interlink Nursing program are set to reduce the need for long-distance travel for pediatric cancer patients and their families.

The POGO Satellite Clinic will offer specialized services, including chemotherapy and follow-up care. Meanwhile, the POGO Interlink Nurse will provide families with essential support, ensuring access to necessary services both within the hospital and in their community.

The programs were made possible through funding from Ontario's Ministry of Health.

"We know firsthand what it meant to be away from home while our child was in treatment. Now, parents won't always have to leave their jobs or split their families apart. You can't put a price on that kind of peace of mind," said Shanley and Drago Pavletic, parents from Thunder Bay.

The establishment of these new programs at the Thunder Bay hospital means that care is now available closer to home, easing the emotional and financial burden on families already navigating the challenges of cancer treatment.

It's something that the Pavletics know first-hand. They shared their experience of the toll that travel for cancer treatment took on their family. Their son, Luke, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia shortly after his second birthday, requiring multiple trips to London for treatment over several years.

"Those three years of cancer treatment took its toll emotionally, financially and mentally," Drago Pavletic said. Luke is now in Grade 2. 

"Establishing a local satellite clinic in Thunder Bay will help our northern families get part of their care closer to home. They won't have to leave their jobs or split their families apart, which will hopefully alleviate a lot of the anxiety we faced."

Luke's treatment, which required regular chemotherapy for several years, often meant 17-hour drives to London, sometimes compounded by flight cancellations or severe weather conditions. The Pavletic family found themselves balancing Luke's treatment with the care of their daughter, Petra, back home.

The POGO Satellite Clinic offers a comprehensive care approach, with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, child life specialists and social workers to provide both clinical and emotional support for children and families. This includes continuous care from diagnosis to surviving the disease, and, when necessary, end-of-life care.

"We have an incredible team here in Thunder Bay who has been serving and supporting families for many, many months,"  Lauren Ettin, CEO of POGO said. "This formalizes this partnership and really implements it as a proper program at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, with teams across the province working together to advance care for children and youth who have cancer."

The programs also aim to support local healthcare providers by offering education and expert guidance to ensure that care is consistent and of the highest quality.

"By bringing these vital services closer to home, we help to ensure our young patients receive the same high-quality care they would at Children's Hospital, but within their own community," said Dr. Alexandra Zorzi, Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at LHSC. 

"Our interdisciplinary teams, including a dedicated Interlink nurse, will guide families through every stage of the pediatric cancer journey, reducing travel burdens, supporting continuity of care, and helping to improve health outcomes," said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. 

For Luke Pavletic, the new POGO programs offer hope for a brighter future for other families and children facing similar struggles.

"I hope they feel good. I hope when it's done, they feel better," said Luke.

With files from Sarah Law