Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma is a solid tumor cancer of the liver. This primary liver tumor which accounts for half of all liver tumors in children is rare with approximately 50 to 70 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. It occurs slightly more often in boys than girls.
Like most childhood cancers, scientists do not know the cause of this disease. Some children however are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with hepatoblastoma due to other genetic conditions. These include: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, and Aicardi syndrome.
Hepatoblastoma is predominantly found in preschool aged children. Half of all patients are diagnosed in their first year of life, with the majority of patients being diagnosed by their third birthday.
Diagnosis and treatment monitoring can be done using X-ray, CT scan, MRI, scan and/or ultrasound

Symptoms of Hepatoblastoma

Symptoms at diagnosis can include:

• abdominal lump or mass often located in the upper right side or middle of the abdomen
• loss of appetite, nausea, abnormal weight loss, diarrhea 
• changes in the skin color: jaundice evidenced by yellow tone to the skin and whites of the eyes
• general itching
• fever, irritability, listlessness
• abdominal pain

"The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about." ~ Unknown

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Easton
1 year old

Diagnosis:

Easton was found to suffer from retinoblastoma in February 2011

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=9895dd57f5f31310VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

Coronado Optimists To Sponsor Splash Bash For Childhood Cancer

http://www.coronadonewsca.com/article_80ddef08-c983-11e2-8876-001a4bcf887a.html

Childhood Leukemias

Treatment

Treatment for childhood leukemia depends on the type of leukemia and on prognostic factors that have been carefully determined by previous clinical trials. In general, childhood leukemias are treated with multi-agent chemotherapy including treatment of the central nervous system (CNS). Chemotherapy often includes steroids, vincristine, L-asparginase, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, doxorubicin, cytarabine, and cyclophosphamide. Radiation and stem cell transplants are included in the treatment of some types of leukemia, especially in relapsed leukemia.

Statistics

• Leukemias are the most common type of childhood cancer.
• Approximately 2,400 children and adolescents younger than 20 years diagnosed with ALL each year in the United States . There is a sharp peak in incidence of ALL and AML for 2-3 year olds.
• Survival rates for childhood ALL in first remission are now approaching 80%.
• Survival rates for children with AML is in the 40% range and remains one of the poorest of childhood cancers. Much work remains to be done to improve outcomes for this group of patients.

"No person has the right to condemn you on how you repair your heart, because no one knows how much you're hurting." ~ Grey's Anatomy

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Leah
4 years old

Diagnosis:
Leah was found to suffer from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2010.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=a8a8469c55087310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

Wellesley bike ride to raise funds to fight pediatric cancer, support families

http://theswellesleyreport.com/2013/05/wellesley-charity-bike-ride/

Types of Childhood Leukemia

There are different types of leukemia. These types are broadly classified as acute - gets worse quickly - or chronic - gets worse slowly. They are also grouped by the type of white blood cell that is affected: lymphoid or myeloid cells. Although all types of leukemia can occur in children, the most common types are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL, and Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or AML. Adult leukemias (CLL, CML) are very rare in children. Two distinct types of myeloid leukemias are seen in children: JMML and APL.

type (abbr)	full name of the leukemia	% of total leukemias	link to more info on the NCI site
ALL	Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia	about 75%
AML	Acute Myeloid Leukemia	about 20%
JMML	Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia*	rare
APL	Acute promyelocytic leukemia*	rare
CLL	Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia	rare
CML	Chronic Myeloid Leukemia	rare

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world." - Jack Layton, Aug 20, 2011

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Aiden
5 years old

Diagnosis:

Aiden was found to suffer from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in August 2011.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=757e0c1a45528310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

Childhood Leukemias

Leukemia is a cancer in which abnormal white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. These abnormal cells, called leukemia cells are cancerous. In other words, they grow out of control. Eventually they spill out of the bone marrow into the peripheral blood. The leukemia cells are not able to function as immune cells like other white blood cells, and their population keeps growing. Eventually they crowd out normal blood cells, including normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. There are so many leukemia cells that the normal blood cells cannot do their jobs of preventing infections, carrying oxygen, and causing the blood to clot. A child who has leukemia is infection-prone, looks pale, and bruises easily.

Symptoms

Symptoms of leukemia may include:

• lethargy, weakness, paleness, dizziness
• back, leg, and joint pain, headache, trouble standing or walking
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding, frequent nose bleeds, bleeding gums, petechiae (red pinpoints on the skin)
• repeated, frequent infections
• fever that lasts for several days, with or without an infection
• loss of appetite, weight loss
• swollen lymph nodes, bloated or tender stomach, swollen liver or spleen
• night sweats
• irritability
• painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, groin, around the eyes, or other parts of the body

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain."

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Alexis
7 years old

Diagnosis:

Alexis was found to suffer from neuroblastoma in April 2008.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=121ff19e1c3c8310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

leukemia victim, draw attention to pediatric cancers

http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/article_51c4fbf8-c4ce-11e2-9252-0019bb30f31a.html

Local Optimist Clubs to Raise Awareness of Childhood Cancer in June

http://www.ecoronado.com/profiles/blogs/local-optimist-clubs-to-raise-awareness-of-childhood-270520132042

Treatment for Brain Tumors

Children with brain tumors should be seen at a multi-disciplinary pediatric medical center, staffed with the following team: a pediatric neurosurgeon, a pediatric neuro-oncologist, a pediatric hem-onc, a pediatric neuro-radiolgoist, and a pediatric neuropsychologist. According to the NCI PDQ, radiation therapy of pediatric brain tumors is technically very demanding and should be carried out in centers that have experience in that area in order to ensure optimal results.
Brain tumors are treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The specific treatment and prognosis depends on the type, grade, and location of the tumor. Depending on the type of tumor and the promptness of diagnosis, the 5 year survival rate is 40-80%. Long-term management of brain cancer survivors is complex and requires a multi-disciplinary approach.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Keshaun
11 years old

Diagnosis:

Keshaun was found to suffer from acute myeloid leukemia in November 2011. http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jspvgnextoid=4cd43576bd359310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

Miller Elementary raises more than $3,600 to fight childhood cancer

http://yourplano.dallasnews.com/2013/05/23/miller-elementary-raises-more-than-3600-to-fight-childhood-cancer/

Types of Childhood Brain Tumors

Many different types of brain tumors occur in children, and the nomenclature can seem daunting. Many brain tumors are named for both the type of cell from which the tumor originated and the location of the tumor in the brain. Even the NCI PDQ states that the nomenclature of pediatric brain tumors is controversial and potentially confusing. Properly naming and classifying a tumor is important because proper treatment depends on proper diagnosis. "The pathologic classification of pediatric brain tumors is a specialized area that is evolving; review of the diagnostic tissue by a neuropathologist who has particular expertise in this area is strongly recommended.

Medulloblastomas arise from primitive neuroectodermal tissue, or PNET. PNET is a general term for a collection of many different brain tumors which arise from undeveloped brain cells. Medulloblastomas are usually located in the cerebellum and are fast growing and highly malignant. They frequently spread, invading other parts of the central nervous system via the spinal fluid. Medulloblastomas account for the largest percentage of pediatric brain cancers. It is more common in boys than girls and usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 6 (only 30% of medulloblastomas occur in adults) and frequently spreads.
Ependymomas arise from the cells that line the internal surfaces of the brain, thus, they are gliomas. The tumors arise from 'ependyma,' cells that line the fluid spaces of the brain and spinal cord. Ependymomas located in the cerebral hemispheres occur primarily in children and adolescents. Although these tumors are capable of malignant behavior, they are almost always benign.
Astrocytomas arise from brain cells which form part of the supportive system of the brain, in particular, cells called "astrocytes" for their star shaped appearance. This tumor are usually slow growing and many are considered curable. Astrocytomas are often cystic, in which case they are particularly easy to remove completely.
Optical nerve gliomas are slow growing tumors which form along the optic nerves. They usually occur in children under the age of 10. The common cell type is pilocytic astrocytoma.
Brain stem glioma, located in the brain stem, can be either slow or fast growing. Depending on the type of supporting tissue from which they arise, they can be either astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastoma multiforme, or a mixed tumor. In general, brain stem tumors are more common in children than they are in adults. Surgery is usually not possible in these tumors, and radiation and chemotherapy must be used instead.
Oligodendrogliomas are a slow growing tumor which arises from cells which make the myelin that insulates nerve fibers. They are located in the hemispheres of the brain, especially the frontal and temporal lobes, and in children are more common in the thalamus.
Gangliogliomas are usually slow growing, and rarely malignant. These tumors can be located anywhere in the brain, but are most often found in the temporal lobe. They arise from ganglia (a ganglion is a group of nerve cells). They occur most frequently in children and young adults.
Craniopharyngioma are benign (non-cancerous), congenital tumors. They are usually cystic and found primarily in children and adolescents.
Pineal Region Tumors are located in the pineal gland at the posterior portion of the third ventricle. The most common tumor of the pineal region is the germinoma. Germinomas (germ cell tumors) represent over one-third of the tumors in this region. Germinomas of the pineal region are most common in teenagers. Additional tumors found in this area include other embryonal type tumors, teratomas, astrocytomas, pineocytomas, and pineoblastomas.

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who've known defeat, known struggle, known loss and have found the way out of the depths...Beautiful people just don't happen." ~ Elizabeth Kubler Ross

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Maddie
11 years old

Diagnosis:

Maddie was found to suffer from acute myeloid leukemia in December 2010.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b925ab69f0af9310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

Beta-blockers may boost chemo effect in childhood cancer

http://www.healthcanal.com/cancers/38920-beta-blockers-may-boost-chemo-effect-in-childhood-cancer.html

RIT women's hockey raises $5,939.86 to help "CURE Childhood Cancer"

http://www.ritathletics.com/news/2013/5/21/WHOCKEY_0521130723.aspx

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Joshua
9 years old
medulloblastoma

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=dc2fcb4dacf6a310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

http://www.thetruth365.org/

The Truth 365 Childhood Cancer Documentary Receives Three Emmy® Nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/5/prweb10750163.htm

Childhood Brain Tumors

Brain cancers account for about 15% of pediatric cancers and are the second most common type of cancer in children. Since the brain controls learning, memory, senses (hearing, visual, smell, taste, touch), emotions, muscles, organs, and blood vessels, the presentation of symptoms varies accordingly.
Treatment of pediatric brain cancers (and non-malignant brain tumors) is more complex than is the treatment of some of the other childhood cancers. Surgery to remove the tumor is not always possible, either because the tumor is inaccessible or because surgical removal of the tumor would damage critical parts of the developing brain. Inoperable areas of the brain include the brain stem, thalamus, motor area, and deep areas of gray matter. The prognosis of a brain tumor depends not only on the type, grade, and size of the tumor, but on its location in the brain. Another reason that malignant brain tumors can be difficult to treat is because the blood-brain barrier prevents chemotherapy from entering the brain and reaching the tumor when given systemically.

Symptoms of brain tumors

The symptoms depend on the location and size of the tumor. Since the brain controls learning, memory, senses, emotions, muscles, organs, and blood vessels, the presentation of symptoms varies accordingly. Since young children often do not complain of the symptoms, parents must rely on their own observations of their child to be aware of signs and symptoms. Sometimes it is the child's school teacher who picks up on the signs and symptoms of a child's brain tumor.
Symptoms can include:

• a seizure not related to high fever
• staring, repetitive automatic movements
• persistent vomiting without any known cause (projectile vomiting), nausea
• progressive weakness or clumsiness; neck tilt, squint
• walking, balance problems
• precocious puberty; growth retardation
• sleep apnea
• vision problems
• headache, especially that wakes the child up at night or is early in the morning
• pain, especially back pain, which should be taken seriously in a child
• changes in personality, irritability, listlessness

As with most childhood cancers, the symptoms of brain tumors are vague and confusing, and are often initially attributed to viruses, neurological problems, or even emotional problems. Most parents of children diagnosed with brain tumors report variations and combinations of the symptoms listed above, symptoms that had no apparent cause and may have lasted for several months before the pediatricians ordered the tests that finally diagnosed a brain tumor.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Dawson
7 years old
acute lymphoblastic leukemia

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d1f1e54ab834b310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=30345d1f74864310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

"People don't always need advice. Sometimes all they really need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand them" ~ Compassionate Friends

Fundraiser tries flushing childhood cancer

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20130517/NEWS01/305170023/Fundraiser-tries-flushing-childhood-cancer?nclick_check=1

Ewing's Family of Tumors (EFTs)

Ewing's is the second most common malignant bone tumor in children, comprising 10-15% of childhood bone cancers. Ewing's tumors have characteristic small round blue cells. The Ewing's family of tumors include:

• Ewing's tumor of bone, or Ewing's sarcoma of bone
• Extraosseous Ewing's (tumor outside of the bone)
• Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)
• Askin's tumor (PNET of the chest wall).

Ewing's family of tumors most frequently occurs in teenagers. It can occur in any bone in the body, but it is most common in the pelvis, thigh, lower leg, upper arm, and rib. Dr. James Ewing who described the tumor in the 1920's distinguished the tumor from osteosarcoma on the basis that it was responsive to radiotherapy.

• More information on Ewing's on the NCI web site - note that you can toggle back and forth between "Health Professional" and "Patient" versions.

Treatment for Ewing's Family of Tumors

Ewing's family of tumors is treated with multi-agent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgical removal of the primary tumor. Chemotherapy can include vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide altering with ifosfamide and etoposide.
It is important that Ewing's patients are evaluated by specialists immediately after diagnosis from all disciplines including radiologists, chemotherapists, pathologists, surgeons or orthopedic oncologists, and radiation oncologists. As in osteosarcoma, a team approach is necessary, especially if limb-sparing procedures are planned.

"Focus not just on the unfairness and problems of life, but also on all that does turn out well. Review the good things of the past, and don't forget in the darkness what you learned in the light." ~Phillip Yancey~

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Aidan
4 years old

Diagnosis:

Aidan was found to suffer from pilocytic astrocytoma in December 2010.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=75473ec2c64bb310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a22aa3b1497fb310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

Adrift in the Waters of Childhood Cancer -- Arguing to Change the Standard of Care

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-agin/adrift-in-the-waters-of-c_b_3286006.html

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a bone tumor that occurs predominantly in adolescents and young adults. Our bones come in two main types: "flat" and "long". Flat bones help protect the brain and organs; long bones sport the legs and arms. Osteosarcoma usually develops at the edges of the long bones, in the "metaphysis", which is the name for the growing ends of the bone. Most of these tumors develop in the ends of the long bones that form the knee. The second most common site for these tumors is in the ends of the upper arm bone close to the shoulder. They can also be found in other places, like the pelvis, shoulder, and skull.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) classification of bone tumors separates the osteosarcomas into central (medullary) and surface (peripheral) tumors and recognizes a number of subtypes within each group.

• NCI site on cellular classification of osteosarcomas.

Treatment for Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is treated with surgery and multi-agent chemotherapy. It is very important that patients are evaluated by an orthopedic oncologist who is familiar with the surgical management of osteosarcoma. This evaluation (including imaging studies) must be done prior to the initial biopsy, since a botched biopsy may jeopardize a limb-sparing procedure.
Patients with osteosarcoma should undergo surgical removal of the tumor if possible. The type of surgery depends on a number of factors, such as limb-sparing or replacement with prosthetic devices that must be evaluated on an individual basis. Chemotherapy can include high-dose methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide, and carboplatin.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Camryn
6 years old

Diagnosis:

Camryn was found to suffer from Wilms tumor in January 2013.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3d7681648f63c310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a22aa3b1497fb310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

"Childhood is about playing in the grass &  getting dirty. It's not about chemo, iv's, steroids, doctor visits, throwing up and laying in a hospital room."

Pediatric Bone Cancers

Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the most common malignancies of bone tissues in children. Osteosarcoma, the more common of the two types, usually presents in bones around the knee. Ewing's sarcoma may affect bones of the pelvis, thigh, upper arm, or ribs

Symptoms of Bone Cancer

Symptoms can include:

• pain in a bone (the most common symptom)
• stiffness, swelling or tenderness around a bone or joint
• interference with normal movements
• weak bones, leading to fractures
• fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia

Bone pain is the most common symptom. Sometimes a lump can be felt on the bone, or the tumor will interfere with normal movements. What often happens is that a child injures themselves while playing, and the pain persists long after the injury should have healed. Parents assume that the pain is from a broken bone and take the child to the doctor for evaluation, at which time X-rays reveal a bone tumor

“Just as parenting a child in your arms takes a lifetime of adapting to a changing relationship, so too does parenting the memory of the child you hold in your heart. This is a journey that lasts a lifetime.” ~ Grieving Dads

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Eli

1 year old

Diagnosis:

Eli was found to suffer from pineoblastoma in March 2012, when he was 5 months old.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d562cce83bc1d310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a22aa3b1497fb310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

Bay Ridge dances to fight pediatric cancer

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/bay-ridge-dances-fight-pediatric-cancer-2013-05-14-190000

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Brooklynn

4 years old

Diagnosis:

Brooklynn was found to suffer from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in April 2012.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b68940d8b338d310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD&vgnextchannel=a22aa3b1497fb310VgnVCM100000290115acRCRD

"Childhood Cancer steals. It steals so much of our past, present, and future. It steals our past because it taints the memories we have of our children--leaving us with the "we should have knowns" or the "if onlies." It steals our present because childhood cancer and its treatment are so monopolizing, ... consuming so much of our time... and energy. It steals our future because
when our children survive, we are never the same and forever faced with the real possibility that it could return. When they don't survive, we're also forever changed and robbed of the future with them all together."

Childhood cancer survivor tells her story of survival in new dance film

http://www.ksby.com/news/childhood-cancer-survivor-tells-her-story-of-survival-in-new-dance-film/

30 Years Later, Child Fights Same Rare Cancer Dad Had

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/05/13/30-years-later-child-fights-same-rare-cancer-dad-had/

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital

Apollos
1 year old

Diagnosis:

Apollos was found to suffer from glioblastoma multiforme in June 2012.

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=cb776f9523e70110VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=ba0b7ff0be118010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD

 "My heroes don't wear capes. They don't fly or  have super powers. They can't stop speeding bullets. My hero's, they do even  better stuff. They have chemicals poured into their bodies, they withstand being  poked & prodded multiple times a day, they push limits to find their  strength and they do it with a smile! My heroes are the kids who fight cancer,  who have no clue what is gonna happen everyday."

PowerStone Property Management Raises Over $24,000 For Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

http://www.prurgent.com/2013-05-09/pressrelease297213.htm

"Childhood cancer is like a never ending rollercoaster ride...one minute your up, the next second you're down....its full of twists and turns that are unexpected and unforeseen...and with every drop, you find your heart in your throat anticipating the unknown. You try to close your eyes but it only gets worse..so you do the only thing you can...hold on for the ride. Except with this ride, it never ends."

May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month!

Med errors common among pediatric cancer outpatients

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-med-errors-common-pediatric-cancer.html

Northwestern Mutual in Oak Brook strikes at pediatric cancer

http://oakbrook.suntimes.com/business/19875260-420/northwestern-mutual-in-oak-brook-strikes-at-pediatric-cancer.html

"Children with cancer are like candles in the wind who accept the possibility that they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light"

Bucs donate over $1,600 to battle childhood cancer

 

KNOX Out Childhood Cancer Event

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/KNOX-Out-Childhood-Cancer-Event-206364011.html

Bedford family to shave heads in support of pediatric cancer research

http://www.wickedlocal.com/bedford/news/x1416817095/Bedford-family-to-shave-heads-in-support-of-pediatric-cancer-research?rssfeed=true#axzz2SbsPJao8

Johnny Manziel takes time to support childhood cancer fight

http://www.wfaa.com/sports/headlines/Johnny-Manziel-takes-time-to-support-childhood-cancer-206345441.html

How are childhood cancers treated?

Treatments are chosen for childhood cancers based mainly on the type and stage (extent) of the cancer. Treatment options may include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and/or other types of treatment. In many cases, more than one of these treatments is used.
There are exceptions, but childhood cancers usually respond well to chemotherapy because they tend to be cancers that grow fast. (Most forms of chemotherapy affect cells that are growing quickly.) Children’s bodies are also generally better able to recover from higher doses of chemotherapy than are adults’ bodies. Using more intensive treatments gives doctors a better chance of treating the cancer effectively, but it can also lead to more short- and long-term side effects. Doctors do their best to balance the need for intensive treatment with the desire to limit side effects as much as possible.
For detailed information on how a certain type of childhood cancer is treated, see our document on that specific type of cancer.

The cancer treatment team

Children with cancer and their families have special needs that can be best met at children’s cancer centers. Treatment of childhood cancer in specialized centers is coordinated by a team of experts who know the differences between adult and childhood cancers, as well as the unique needs of children with cancer and their families. This team usually includes:

• Pediatric oncologists: doctors who specialize in using medicines to treat children with cancer
• Pediatric surgeons: doctors who specialize in performing surgery in children
• Radiation oncologists: doctors who specialize in using radiation to treat cancer
• Pediatric oncology nurses: nurses who specialize in caring for children with cancer
• Nurse practitioners and physician assistants: nurses and other professionals who are specially trained and licensed to practice medicine alongside doctors

Childhood cancer treatment involves many professionals other than nurses and doctors, too. Children’s cancer centers have psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, nutritionists, rehabilitation and physical therapists, and educators who can support and care for the entire family.

Getting the best treatment possible

Treating children is different from treating adults. It is best for a child to get treatment at a hospital or treatment center where many children have been treated for cancer. Today, most children with cancer are treated at specialized centers designed for children. These children’s cancer centers are often members of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). All of these centers are linked to a university and most are connected with a children’s hospital. Going to a hospital that specializes in treating childhood cancer helps ensure that a child gets the best available cancer treatment.
These centers offer the most up-to-date-treatment by conducting clinical trials (studies of promising new therapies). If your child qualifies for a clinical trial, you will have to decide whether or not to enter (enroll) the child into it. Older children, who can understand more, usually must also agree to take part in the clinical trial before the parents’ consent is accepted.
Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the- art cancer care for your child. They may be the only way to get access to certain treatments. They are also the only way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they might not be right for every child. Talk to your child’s cancer care team to learn about possible clinical trials for your child, and ask about the pros and cons of enrolling in one of them.

CURE’s Mission Statement:

CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through funding targeted research and through support of patients and their families.

CURE’s Vision:

CURE Childhood Cancer believes that childhood cancer can be cured in our lifetime.

http://www.curechildhoodcancer.org/

Local baseball team shaves for childhood cancer research

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Local-baseball-team-shaves-for-childhood-cancer/nEqZ5nB76UKrDR_uhm5Pww.cspx

Golden Kidz acts as ‘lifeline’ for childhood cancer patients, families

http://dailyindependent.com/local/x319978225/Golden-Kidz-acts-as-lifeline-for-childhood-cancer-patients-families

Benefit on Saturday in Mendham for pediatric cancer aid

http://newjerseyhills.com/observer-tribune/news/benefit-on-saturday-in-mendham-for-pediatric-cancer-aid/article_66c6c004-b31c-11e2-9075-0019bb2963f4.html

Baseball Players from the Liberty League Join Go4theGoal Foundation's "Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer" Awareness and Fundraising Campaign

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/baseball-players-from-liberty-league-join-go4thegoal-foundations-lace-up-4-pediatric-1785944.htm

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month!

Every year, nearly 12,500 children under 20 years old are diagnosed with some kind of cancer in the US.  About 4,200 of those kids have Central Nervous System (CNS - brain and spine) tumors.  11 more are diagnosed every day

Childhood Cancer is NOT Rare!

• Cancer is still the leading cause of death from disease among U.S. children over one year of age.¹ Cancer kills more children than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, AIDS, asthma and juvenile diabetes combined.²
  
• In the United States, among children, from birth to age 19, more than 18,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year.³
  
• This year, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, will be diagnosed in about 3,000 U.S. children, making it the most common pediatric cancer.⁴
  
• Childhood cancer survival rates in the United States have increased from less than 20 percent in the 1960s to almost 80 percent today.¹
  
• The increase in childhood cancer survival rates can be partly attributed to the progress made against the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as advances in treatment and research made in the past few decades. Researchers have made strides against pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, raising survival rates from just 4 percent 50 years ago to 94 percent today.⁵
  
• While progress against childhood cancer has been made, cure rates for some pediatric cancers remain below 50 percent.³
  
• The causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown.
  
• Childhood cancer is not one disease entity, but rather is a spectrum of different malignancies. Cancers found in children are biologically different from those seen in adults.
  
• The 10 most common types of childhood cancer are as follows³:
  
  • Leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia)
    
  • CNS, brain, and spinal cord tumors
    
  • Lymphomas, (including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
    
  • Skin cancer and melanomas
    
  • Soft tissue tumors (including rhabdomyosarcoma)
    
  • Germ cell tumors
    
  • Neuroblastoma
    
  • Bone cancers (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma)
    
  • Renal cancer (including Wilms tumor)
    
  • Retinoblastoma
• Among the major types of childhood cancers, leukemias and cancers of the brain and central nervous system account for more than half of new cases.¹

Author and Cancer Advocate Joy Cruse to speak at III Forks Golf Classic Dinner to Benefit Childhood Cancer Research

http://www.4-traders.com/news/Author-and-Cancer-Advocate-Joy-Cruse-to-speak-at-III-Forks-Golf-Classic-Dinner-to-Benefit-Childhood--16798421/

Five Below Partners with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation to Help Fight Childhood Cancer

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/five-below-partners-with-alexs-lemonade-stand-foundation-to-help-fight-childhood-cancer-2013-04-30

All ages invited to kick childhood cancer May 11 in Plano

http://www.scntx.com/articles/2013/05/01/news_by_readers/doc518015911e9a0992444439.txt

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the hopes and dreams for their future are put into question. We want to bring awareness about the lack of funding in the childhood cancer arena and help raise more money for the research it will take to find a cure."