Children's Hospital designs first cancer unit for young adults
More children and adults over 30 are surviving cancer diagnoses today than ever before, but teens and young adults have not seen the same advances in treatment. Seattle Children’s Hospital hopes to change that by offering more specialized care to this age group in the country’s first cancer unit specifically designed for young-adult patients.
About a quarter of the patients at Children’s Hospital are more than 15 years old. While some of these patients could be treated at hospitals for adults, research has shown that for certain types of cancer, teens and young adults have a better chance of survival when they are treated with pediatric protocols.
Heather Krich was treated at Children’s in 2006 when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 18 years old.
“My life was just supposed to be starting and there I was faced with the possibility that life could be ending,” she said.
Krich started chemotherapy at Children’s soon after her high school graduation. While her friends were celebrating in Hawaii or moving into dorm rooms, Krich spent many days and nights in the hospital; surrounded by patients much younger than she was.
“I had no one to talk to,” Krich said. “It’s hard to have an intelligent conversation with a 3 year old.”
 Heather Krich during treatment |
Starting next month, cancer patients ages 15 to 29 will be treated in their own unit on the top floor of the new “Building Hope” facility at Children’s Hospital.
The unit’s 16 private rooms were designed to promote independence and give patients greater control over their surroundings. Patients will get their own bathroom, shower and a refrigerator where they can keep their own food and beverages. They will be able to control the room temperature and lighting.
“You have to rely on doctors and parents so much so to have some sense of normalcy is so beneficial for patients who have to go through this at such a hard time in life,” Krich said.
The rooms are also much larger, with space for families to eat or play games and can fit two parents staying overnight.
The new young-adult unit even offers a few luxuries. Rooms come with glass door panels with multi-color LED lights that patients can personalize. They also have flat-screen TVs connected to the internet with live and on-demand programming. Eventually, there will be a rooftop terrace above the unit with a therapeutic garden just for patients.
Young-adult patients will experience greater privacy in the future while being treated at Children’s. Besides having their own rooms, patients won’t need to be bothered by staff delivering items in the new unit. The new hospital rooms feature “pass-through” cabinets with doors on the inside and outside of the patient’s room which staff will use to deliver medications and linens each day.
The young-adult unit also includes spaces where patients can meet and interact with each other. The floor will host events like Wii tournaments, movie nights, yoga and cooking classes.
“There are definitely days when you don’t want to get out of bed, but to have a space where you can go and network will be absolutely priceless,” Krich said.
Krich said it is important for caregivers to recognize that teenagers and young adults with cancer have the same needs as their healthy peers.
“Just because you have cancer does not mean you’re any different from any other young adult or teen,” she said. “You still want to be able to act your age, look your age and update your Facebook status from your hospital room.”
Dr. Rebecca Johnson can relate to Kirch’s experience. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 25 years old and is now the director of Children’s Hospital’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program.
“[When I was diagnosed] there were no age-specific support services available,” Johnson said. “It was hard to locate another person going through cancer therapy who was even close to my own age.”
Johnson collaborated with Krich and other young-adult survivors to design the new AYA inpatient unit and offer more age-appropriate cancer treatment at the hospital.
“We are committed to improving the lives of teens and young adults with cancer,” Johnson said. “Opening the first inpatient unit in the country for this age group is an exciting next step in our journey.”
Johnson will also be launching video support groups in the new unit this summer that will connect Children’s patients with young adults being treated for cancer at the University of Washington’s Medical Center.
“We hope to bring together a peer group, set of acquaintances and possible friends that are all on a similar path,” Johnson said. “Just knowing that they aren’t alone and can hang out and share their experiences with other patients is something that will be very valuable.”
This is not free treatment I'm sure... someone has to be paying for it but honestly I am already of the mindset that if I get something like cancer I won't be taking treatment for it... honestly cost of healthcare is a joke and clearly separated by those who can and cannot afford the treatments... as one that likely could not sustain paying the costs I would for such treatments and then burden my family with the bills when I die anyway (double edged sword... money bills and the pain of my death to boot).... I'll go when I go... no regrets! .... I fail to see why people are so obsessed with cheating death as in the end 'that house always wins'
This is swesome!! During my younger daughter's time at Children's we watched this new building go in. She turned 15 just days after being diagnosed with cancer & would have appreciated the differences. Dr. Johnson is incredible, too! We have never had a problem with any staff member at Children's. We've been going there off & on for many, many years and in a few different clinics/specialties. Everyone does what they can to make the patients feel comfortable. It's not easy to be seriously ill when you're a kid....nor is it easy on their family, but the staff try. This is another example of them listening to the needs of the patients! YAY!!
This is awesome. We are so lucky as a community to have Seattle Children's right in our own backyard, so to speak. Our tenure there with our daughter and her type one diabetes diagnosis was everything we could have wished it to be. The staff and doctors were so kind and caring and went out of their way to involve the family in the decision making process.Â
When I was in chemo I actually had the chance to interact with several people (one who couldn't start treatment and one who's treatment was discontinued because of ability to pay) and basically they had a death sentence. Perhaps some of this money spent could go to help those who have no way to get the expensive treatments in the first place. You don't need that many bells and whistles to get through this, it's important to have a support group and more than anything to have a positive attitude.
I'm curious how the features that allow for the young person's privacy, such as the cabinet for delivering meds and linens, work with medical care. Don't the medical staff need to be frequently assessing the patient's condition? Seems like less contact with the patient might make it difficult to do things like that...or is remote monitoring adequate?
It looks like a nice place if you have to be sick...some young people might prefer to be in an "adult" hospital. This is just another option for treatment.
This is certainly a good thing, but I wish people were as passionate about preventing cancer as they are about fighting it. Â The causes of cancer a practically being forced into our body and no one seems to care, they just want to fight it afterwards.Â
Sounds like a great idea. That age group needs alot of support and anything that can help a positive environment will help them.
People with cancer at any age need support. Cancer isn't a generational thing and neither is chemo and radiation. I understand the need for support groups and so forth, but when you consider there are people out there that can't even afford that kind of treatment to save their lives I personally find this a little over the top. Just another thing that will push the cost of treatment up higher.
I believe most of the care given at Seattle Children's is mostly uncompensated. They do a wonderful job.
I'm sure they do and I'm not trying to take anything away from them. But when you look at the whole total picture and when there are people out there dying that can't afford the treatments I think it's a little bit much to have this special group singled out for the costly treatment this group is getting. Somewhere someone has to pay for all of this. Having been through chemo myself I had the opportunity to witness several people who were basically given the death sentence because of lace of ability to pay.
This sounds wonderful. This will add some much need normalcy and peace for their healing and treatment. A way to connect with others and not feel so isolated can go a million miles.
*sigh* She's a beautiful young lady, but that particular photo (interesting choice) as the article cover makes the story look somewhat like a personal ad. :/
Good for progress and seeing to patients as real people with everyday needs, not simply "ill patients". :]
@Hadrian I had no idea what the story was about at first. I thought maybe they attached the wrong photo to the wrong story.Â
â@komonews: @seattlechildren designs first cancer unit for young adults komonews.com\/living\/health\/â¦WZ@AnnaliseRuttutt this is what you were saying!
What at excellent idea! I can't say enough nice things about Childrens hospital and the staff there. It has been proven that if a cancer patient has a good support system, their odds of survival increase.  I think having an area for teens/young adults for their own where they can talk and support each other is great. I hope other hospitals follow this same model.
Very nice. Treating the emotional needs as well as the physical needs of the patients can only have good results.
I love this place @komonewss:@seattlechildrenn designs first cancer unit for young adultskomonews.com\/living\/health\/â¦V2Nzâ
the hospitals strive to increase their empires - gaining market share is everything. Now serving adults they may have a problem obtaining neighborhood support for their next expansion.
@contraryjim Don't quite understand your second sentence. Or maybe I don't want to if it is anything like your first. Skepticism has a more useful and appropriate place elsewhere...
Young adults? Anyone who is 18 years or older is an adult in the eyes of the law. How about for all adults know matter what their age is.Â
@HallandOates You forget how it was to be a teen, clearly. You're too old to hang with the little kids, yet you're not completely grown up, and still want to be young, therefore stuck in the middle. Without people in the same age range nearby to associate with and live as normal as possible, cancer or any ongoing illness is going to be that much tougher to go through.
@Hadrian Very well said!!
@HallandOates If 18 is the minimum age for adulthood, then it is the youngest possible age one can be as an adult, hence the term "young adults."  I really wonder why, in an article devoted to a grave matter like people with cancer, you would choose that particular nit to pick.
@HallandOates Not exactly you are not a complete adult at 18 yoa in the eyes of the law. If they were anyone 18+ years you would be able to buy a pistol, buy beer, run for president and I'm sure I missed a few more.  But this is how business is, cater to a market just like bars, clubs and gyms do.
If I ruled the world..... Every child would be treated in such a way when faced with an illness such as cancer.....Â
Thank you! Maybe ContraryJim and HallandOates should take a few lessons in sensitivity and caring from you!
Excellent idea. Â Anything to make it easier and more pleasant is a good thing.
Those rooms look pretty nice. Â Glad to see the hospital is making it more tolerable. for these kids. Â Hopefully this will lift their spirits a little bit while they have to spend time at the hospital. Â Â