The Childhood Cancer Blog
The Childhood Cancer Blog
If you ask Cole Fitzgerald what it is like to face childhood cancer for a second time — fifteen years after his first rare cancer diagnosis — Cole will say in his Jersey accent:
“It is what it is.”
And what it is this second time around is pancreatoblastoma, a type of cancer that has only ever been documented 50 times and just once following a neuroblastoma diagnosis. That one case —that’s Cole Fitzgerald.
“It definitely came out of left field. I definitely didn't see it coming. Nobody saw it coming,” said Cole. “And it brought a lot of frustration, a lot of anger... Read More
At 4 years old, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) founder, Alex Scott, believed anyone could make a difference no matter their age, and at ALSF, we believe schools have the power to inspire that change. For two decades, institutions ranging from preschools to universities across the nation have become a part of the ALSF community with fundraisers to help raise awareness and funds for children with cancer.
Whether you’re a teacher looking to integrate childhood cancer awareness into your curriculum, a principal looking to inspire school spirit for a good cause, or a college... Read More
Dr. Roberts (pictured above) is part of a dream team of childhood cancer researchers from all specialties and all over the world funded by an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Crazy 8 Initiative Grant. The Crazy 8 Initiative with support from partner Northwestern Mutual has provided $26 million in grant funding to six projects led by researchers at 21 institutions all over the world.
In November, the Crazy 8 teams gathered for a meeting in Philadelphia, PA. Teams are made up of specialists from all realms working together within their own projects and also collaborating with each other across institutions and oceans.
Dr. Ryan Roberts, an oncologist and researcher from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, sees the havoc childhood cancer reigns on children and their families every day.
“It causes long, painful, and sometimes futile battles for kids. Some of my patients spend the entirety of middle school and high school on chemotherapy, ultimately unsuccessfully,” said Dr. Roberts.
Dr. Roberts specializes in the treatment of osteosarcoma, the most common, but still rare, pediatric bone cancer that happens primarily in adolescents. While surgical techniques have improved over the past several... Read More
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