Ontario’s new five-year Childhood Cancer Care Plan, produced by the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) and its partners, builds on strong, province-wide coordination to deliver wrap-around care and support for children, youth, survivors and families at every step of the childhood cancer journey.
September 23, 2024, Toronto, ON – Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones recently joined POGO to launch the Childhood Cancer Care Plan: A Roadmap for Ontario 2024-2029. Published by POGO and its partners, the Plan leverages strong collaboration and coordination across the province to ensure wrap-around care and support for children and youth with cancer, survivors and families at every step of the childhood cancer journey. With support from the Government of Ontario, this new roadmap will continue to strengthen the province’s world-class childhood cancer system.
“Unfortunately, too many families here in Ontario are faced with the harsh reality of childhood cancers,” says Premier Doug Ford. “It’s a terrible disease that impacts not just the children, but their entire family. We’re incredibly grateful for the outstanding work that POGO does to support these families, ensuring they have access to the care they need, when and where they need it.”
“We thank POGO for your dedication, for your leadership and collaboration, for everything you do to support children and their families facing a cancer diagnosis,” says Health Minister Sylvia Jones. “I look forward to our continued work to ensure families have access to the best possible treatment and care throughout their journey.”
POGO works to ensure that everyone affected by childhood cancer has access to the best care and support. Informed by diverse voices from across the childhood cancer community, the Plan has priorities which focus on bringing care closer to home, ensuring survivor well-being, harnessing data, improving access to drugs and therapies, and enhancing the availability of mental health and financial supports for families.
Sam Taylor’s daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer, at age 10. “Shortly after Ellie’s diagnosis, we were connected with a POGO Interlink Nurse, an invaluable resource who guided us through the hospital system and helped us understand the unfamiliar world of childhood cancer,” says Sam Taylor. “Through her visits to our home and Ellie’s school, we knew we were in good hands. And when the time was right, the nurse helped us with the transition to care closer to home at the POGO Satellite Clinic at our local community hospital. This meant more time for Ellie with her friends and brother and a lot less time on the road. The POGO Satellite quickly became a second home for our family—an inviting place with an incredible staff where Ellie felt safe and relaxed, and where we, as her parents, felt reassured that she was receiving the best possible care.”
“Ontario’s childhood cancer care system is considered one of the best in the world, and we have the opportunity to make it even better by addressing current challenges and thinking ahead to navigate future demands,” says James Scongack, Chair of the POGO Board of Directors. “On behalf of POGO and our partners, I want to thank the Government of Ontario for its support, and its commitment to improving the lives of thousands of kids and families across Ontario dealing with this devastating disease.”
“There is exceptional pride in the quality and accessibility of Ontario’s childhood cancer care system. This is made possible by a shared vision of excellence across our incredible community,” says Lauren Ettin, Chief Executive Officer of POGO. “Working together, we can continue building on our collective success, so that children and youth with cancer, survivors and families can count on having the treatments, resources and supports they need, now – and for life.”
Download and share the Childhood Cancer Care Plan: A Roadmap for Ontario 2024-2029.
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About Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO)
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) works to ensure that everyone affected by childhood cancer has access to the best care and support. We partner to achieve an excellent childhood cancer care system for children, youth, survivors, and their families and healthcare teams, in Ontario and beyond. POGO champions childhood cancer care, and as the collective voice of this community, is the official advisor to Ontario’s Ministry of Health on children’s cancer control and treatment. POGO is a non-profit organization with charitable status, here for kids with cancer, for now, for life.
Media Contact
Jacqui DeBique
Senior Manager, Communications
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO)
416-592-1232 ext. 266