I have been a pediatric nurse for 35 years, and have been a part of the pediatric Hematology Oncology team at Miller’s Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA  for the past 25 years.
 
As co-chair of the Children’s Oncology Group’s Nursing Clinical Trials Subcommittee, I have witnessed first-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.
 
I love being part of something that is innovative and dynamic.  The children and families I work with along with my fantastic healthcare colleagues make me feel valued and respected every day.  I enjoy making a difference in their lives.  An adult oncology nurse once commented to me that caring for patients with cancer is hard enough, but she couldn't imagine doing it with children.
 
Only one child is diagnosed with cancer for every 100 adults, and their cancers are very different.  Much of the focus in adult cancers has to do with how we can prevent the disease through lifestyle modification.  That is not the case with pediatric cancers.  To make further progress with childhood cancer will require much more support of research that is happening at the molecular and gene level.  Our children are our future and we need to do what we can to eradicate childhood cancer.
 
Joetta D. Wallace, MSN, RN, FNPC

Palliative Care Program Coordinator

Miller Children's Hospital

2801 Atlantic Ave.

Long Beach, CA  90806