The Childhood Cancer Blog
The Childhood Cancer Blog
Ginny Mclean (center) from the Swifty Foundation togther with Liz and Jay Scott
Patti Gustafson became aware of childhood cancer when her son Michael was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor. Michael was nearing the end of his life when he developed his “Master Plan” to donate his tumor tissue to science so a cure might be found for other children. From his plan, the Swifty Foundation was born.
Michael died at the age of 15. Today, his family caries on his foundation.
“Before I was in this space, I always assumed 'somebody' was curing childhood cancer. I mean, everyone wants children to stop dying from cancer, so of course it’s... Read More
12-year neuroblastoma survivor Lucy.
Dr. Janice Withycombe, an ALSF-funded research nurse at Clemson University and Prisma Health, believes that the long-term side effects of pediatric cancer treatment can best be understood not by talking to the parents of a child, but by talking to the child directly to hear their experience.
Childhood cancer treatments — especially chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — come with a myriad of immediate, short-term and lifelong side effects. Side effects during treatment can make the harsh months of... Read More
Chemotherapy has long been a part of the frontline treatment plan for kids battling high-risk neuroblastoma. But when neuroblastoma becomes chemotherapy resistant, doctors are left with a dwindling list of options for children, who are desperate for cures.
For these children, it is critical that researchers work to understand what causes this chemotherapy resistance and then find a therapy that works. One Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) researcher, Dr. Patrick Reynolds, made a discovery that could be a game changer.
Using cancer tumor models and cell lines... Read More
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