Patti Byron,
I love being part of something that is innovative
and dynamic. The children and families I work with,
R.N., M.S.N. along with my fantastic healthcare colleagues, make me
feel valued and respected every day. I enjoy making a
British Columbia Children’s Hospital
difference in their lives. An adult oncology nurse once
I have spent my entire 22 years in nursing working with
commented to me that caring for patients with cancer is
children who have cancer. I quickly learned and enjoyed
hard enough, but she couldn’t imagine doing it with children.
the intense involvement with
these patients and families
Only one child is diagnosed with cancer for every 100
touched by cancer. I love my
adults, and their cancers are very different. Much of the
work because there are never
focus in adult cancers has to do with how we can prevent
ending learning opportunities
the disease through lifestyle modifi cation. That is not the
in this fi eld, with focused
case with pediatric cancers. To make further progress
clinical trials and research to
with childhood cancer will require much more support of
improve patient care, quality
research that is happening at the molecular and gene level.
of life and outcomes.
Our children are our future and we need to do what we can
to eradicate childhood cancer.
I have been responsible
for the oversight of the education needs of the Children’s
Oncology Group nurses related to the care of patients on
clinical trials. Thanks to the tremendous research initiative
Wendy Landier,
of the Children’s Oncology Group, we have seen new
R.N., M.S.N., C.P.N.P., C.P.O.N.
treatments being offered to these sick children, ones that do
not keep them hospitalized as long as they had in the past, City of Hope National Medical Center
allowing them to get back to their daily activities. We have
My involvement in pediatric oncology clinical trials dates
also witnessed better cure rates. All of these strides offer
back to 1985, when I fi rst joined the staff of Children’s
hope to patients and their families.
Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), in Orange, California.
With Children’s Oncology Group centers across the United
I loved the opportunity of getting to know and care for
States and Canada, children diagnosed with cancer receive
patients and families over time, and I became aware that
the best care possible. I always tell families to maintain
through clinical trials, there was growing optimism that
hope and stay strong for themselves and their children, as
many children and adolescents with cancer could be cured.
children are resilient and wise and teach us more that we
I also soon came to the realization that as a nurse working
could ever imagine. Every day that I can help a child and
in pediatric oncology, I could make a contribution toward
their family stricken with cancer is an achievement. These
improving outcomes for these patients.
children are my heroes, and a reminder about hope and the
Much of the enthusiasm I have about my role as a nurse is
special meaning of each day.
fueled by the work occurring in clinical trials conducted by
the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). In 2000, I joined the
Nursing Steering Committee as Chair of the Nursing Clinical
Joetta D. Wallace,
Practice Subcommittee. During my tenure in that position,
I worked on a number of clinical practice projects. Over the
R.N., M.S.N., F.N.P.C.
past eight years, I have also had the opportunity to serve as
nursing representative on four COG protocol committees.
Miller Children’s Hospital
Throughout each of these experiences, I have gained new
I have been a pediatric nurse for 35 years, and have been insights and knowledge into the workings of cooperative
a part of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology team at Miller group clinical trials, developed new collaborative
Children’s Hospital for the past 25 years. relationships, and gained immense satisfaction from the
knowledge that the work we do in COG results in ongoing
As Co-Chair of the Children’s
tangible improvements in both care and cure for children
Oncology Group’s Nursing
with cancer.
Clinical Trials Subcommittee, I
have witnessed fi rst-hand the
tremendous accomplishments
of the organization. Because
the COG has always involved
all healthcare disciplines in the
research approach, we have
been able to advance the
supportive care aspects along
with the medical, surgical and
biological advances.
CureSearch Annual Report 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36