Support from the Máxima Center
The Máxima Center is there to support you in various ways around the end of treatment.
What kind of support can you get after treatment?
After treatment, your child will continue to receive follow-up care from the Máxima Center, in collaboration with the shared care hospital. We look at how your child is doing physically and emotionally and whether they are recovering well from treatment. Sometimes your child will also have tests, such as a blood test, ultrasound, or scan. Other things may also be discussed, such as transferring care to healthcare professionals close to home, for example a physical therapist or psychologist.
After the follow-up period, your physician or nurse practitioner transfers your child’s care to the LATER physician. For most diagnoses, this is about five years after diagnosis. After an allogeneic stem cell transplant, this is two years after the end of treatment. From this point onward, the focus is on your child’s long-term health. The LATER physician monitors whether your child continues to recover well and develop appropriately and checks for possible late effects of the disease or treatment.
If you or your partner need additional support, you can contact a medical social worker. Our medical social workers are also available after treatment to help you think through issues related to processing what has happened, work, family, finances, and practical questions. Contact your Medical social worker or email MMW@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl.
If you have concerns or questions about psychological symptoms, your physician or nurse practitioner can refer you to a psychologist. The psychologist will work with you and your child to determine what support is needed and where it can best be provided, close to home or at the Princess Máxima Center. You can also always contact your primary care physician with questions.
After treatment, you will have less contact with your Child life specialist. They are still involved in the transition to the follow-up period and can help you with questions or problems. For example, they can think along with you and refer you to appropriate support outside the Princess Máxima Center. You can always ask your physician or nurse practitioner about your Child life specialist.
Op Koers Online offers courses for parents and siblings (ages eight to 13). During the courses, they can share experiences and receive practical tools for dealing with this new phase. The course is led by psychologists and medical social workers.
If your child has ongoing learning difficulties or if there are other concerns at school, it is best to discuss these with your child’s school. If you need help with this, you can contact the educational facility consultant from the Máxima Center who supported your child during treatment. The consultant can think things through with you and advise you on an appropriate next step. You can also email school@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl. More information can be found in the brochure ‘School after treatment’.
If your child continues to be tired or has sleep problems, healthcare professionals from the sleep and fatigue clinic can help you think through possible solutions. Your physician or nurse practitioner can refer you.