New Niagara clinic to offer childhood cancer care closer to home

Niagara families facing childhood cancer will soon receive care closer to home when the new Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Satellite Clinic opens at the Marotta Family Hospital early next year. 

The Niagara clinic will be the 10th POGO Satellite Clinic in Ontario, which is being established through a partnership between POGO, Niagara Health and McMaster Children’s Hospital, with support from the Ontario Ministry of Health. 

Niagara Health says the new clinic will make it possible to receive cancer treatment and services closer to home, including chemotherapy. 

Health officials say will help reduce disruptions to school, work and family life and minimize the need for some trips to McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton.

“A childhood cancer diagnosis changes every aspect of a family’s life,” said Lynn Guerriero, President and CEO of Niagara Health. 

“We recognize that this is a difficult journey for children and their families. Being able to access more pediatric oncology care in Niagara will help reduce some of the stress that comes with frequent travel while keeping children closer to home and connected to the specialized care they need.”

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Brett Wales, whose son received pediatric cancer care at McMaster Children’s Hospital says his family made the trip from Niagara Falls to Hamilton for 108 weeks for his son’s treatment. 

“Those weekly appointments added up to more than 18,000 kilometers and 270 hours on the road. When your child has cancer, every hour matters,” Wales said.

“This new POGO Satellite Clinic at the Marotta Family Hospital will give Niagara families something incredibly valuable: more time at home, more time together and less time worrying about the drive to care.”

This clinic will operate in the Children’s Health Unit on the fourth floor of the Marotta Family Hospital. Work to prepare the space is already underway.

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