3/24/2011 – Dr. Leonard Sender, Medical Director of the CHOC Cancer Institute and Director of the Young Adult Cancer Program at the University of California, Irvine’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, is adding the role of Editor-in-Chief of a new journal to his Curriculum Vitae.
Dr. Leonard Sender, Medical Director of the CHOC Cancer Institute and Director of the Young Adult Cancer Program at the University of California, Irvine’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, is adding the role of Editor-in-Chief of a new journal to his Curriculum Vitae. The Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed quarterly publication of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., will launch in April 2011. The first issue features a roundtable discussion, “Trailblazers in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology,” with Dr. Sender as one of the subject experts.
“Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer presents the medical community with several unique problems. First, it requires true collaboration between pediatric and medical oncologists as the age range crosses both disciplines. Next, our AYA cancer patients not only have cancer but are also often dealing with ongoing developmental and psychosocial issues at the same time; as such, we must be aware of how a cancer diagnosis interferes with their normal development. The roundtable discussion helps put AYA cancer in perspective for those who have not yet considered the 15-39 year-old cancer patient as a distinct and relevant patient group,” explains Dr. Sender.
Dr. Sender is joined in the roundtable discussion by Archie Bleyer, M.D., Medical Director of Clinical Research for the St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon; Karen Albritton, M.D., Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at Cook Children’s Medical Center and University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas; Ronald Barr, MB ChB., M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Pathology and Medicine at McMaster University in Canada; and Ian Lewis, MB ChB, Professor of Cancer Research in Children and Young People at Leeds Teaching Hospital in the United Kingdom. These physicians are considered to be pioneers in the field, helping to mold and advance this area of specialization (AYA).
Adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39) are a distinct group of cancer patients who have not experienced the same improvements in overall survival compared to their younger and older peers. Survivorship issues, including growing concern over the unintended consequences of cancer (infertility, heart and lung damage, and metabolic problems), will be addressed in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO). Additionally, JAYAO will provide a forum for AYA cancer research and practice advances, and feature a variety of content, including peer-reviewed articles, clinical trials highlights, case studies, and advocacy efforts.
The CHOC Cancer Institute, in partnership with University of California, Irvine’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, has a dedicated AYA program. Under the direction of Dr. Sender, the program offers the full spectrum of services, from sophisticated clinical protocols to psychosocial services such as college and work counseling geared to the adolescent patients. At CHOC, the patient is closely managed by an integrated team of experts, who review each case and customize the care path for each patient according to his or her specific needs.The program gives adolescents access to the latest opportunities for a cure, tailoring treatment specifically to their age group. CHOC offers age-appropriate, disease-appropriate treatment in an environment that allows individuals to feel comfortable and at ease.