The Maine Children’s Cancer Program, (MCCP), began in 1984 as a small, independent clinic in downtown Portland with a total staff of four. Twenty-five years later, following a 1994 merger with the pediatrics division of Maine Medical Center, it is a team of 24 dedicated professionals working together to meet the myriad of needs of children with cancer and hematological disorders. MCCP provides a coordinated program with three important components: medical care, clinical research, and psychosocial support. The mission of the program is to support children and their families through their difficult and stressful journey of living with childhood cancer.

Each year between 50-60 children are newly diagnosed with cancer and treated at MCCP.  The average course of intense treatment is typically two years, although it can last as long as four. This means that approximately 200 children are in various stages of active treatment at any given time. Depending on the type of cancer, patients must be seen weekly, sometimes daily, during treatment.

Nearly all oncology patients require hospitalization for treatment or treatment complications during their illness. Patients are treated at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) when they requite inpatient care. Some children may be admitted for a brief 48-hour stay while others might be hospitalized for months at a time. MCCP physicians, social workers, and nurse practitioners all practice at BBCH, providing care continuity to their patients whether they are in the hospital or at the clinic.

The standard of care in pediatric oncology is clinical research, which means that the best treatment options are available through clinical research trials.  The Maine Children’s Cancer Program is an accredited member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) which manages all national treatment protocols.

The experience of childhood cancer and treatment depends on the care and attention the patients receive. At MCCP the entire team fosters an environment where each child’s visit can be a positive experience. Families are greeted by enthusiastic front office staff, including Daisy (the therapy dog), and up-beat medical professionals. Patients are treated with gentle kindness and are taught relaxation techniques from their social workers to cope with pain and anxiety. After a difficult visit, patients look forward to stopping at the “Owie Box”, where they can select a toy to take home. Important milestones, such as the final day of a child’s treatment or a birthday, are great excuses for the staff to surprise them with a celebration.

Truly the unique feature that sets this program above and apart from many other treatment centers is the pediatric oncology social workers.  At MCCP, children and families receive the vitally important psychosocial care and support they need during every step of their long journey through childhood cancer - and beyond. 

Need of the Program:

The Maine Children’s Cancer Program treats children from all over the state of Maine and parts of New Hampshire. Since its inception, the program has treated more than 1600 patients. Each year, approximately 50-60 new patients are diagnosed with cancer, that’s about one new patient every week! The funds raised through this program support three main areas: medical care, research and psychosocial services. The goal of the program is to prevent cancer from letting kids be kids.

For more information on the Maine Children’s Cancer Program call 207-662-6274 or
visit: <http://www.mmc.org/mccp>. Thank you for your support.