The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

Welcome to The Childhood Cancer Blog
from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation!

  • Lakelynn was 3 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. Now, Lakelynn is 6 years old and her tumor is stable.
    Lakelynn was 3 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. Now, Lakelynn is 6 years old and her tumor is stable.
  • Edie was just 6 months old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Today, Edie is celebrating her 11th birthday, cancer-free.
    Edie was just 6 months old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Today, Edie is celebrating her 11th birthday, cancer-free.
  • Zach was 5 years old when he battled a rare form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Zach is now 15 years old and cancer-free.
    Zach was 5 years old when he battled a rare form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Zach is now 15 years old and cancer-free.
  • Taylor was 11 years old when osteosarcoma entered her life. Today, Taylor is 25 years old, cancer-free and celebrating her 1st year of marriage
    Taylor was 11 years old when osteosarcoma entered her life. Today, Taylor is 25 years old, cancer-free and celebrating her 1st year of marriage
  • Eden was 10 years old when doctors discovered a cancer so rare it had no name. Today, Eden is 15 years old and that rare cancer is gone.
    Eden was 10 years old when doctors discovered a cancer so rare it had no name. Today, Eden is 15 years old and that rare cancer is gone.

When Lakelynn was first diagnosed with a rare tumor, her family was given no options for treatment. Then genomic testing revealed that Lakelynn’s tumor harbored an NTRK gene fusion. Within 48 hours of learning more about Lakelynn’s diagnosis, the family headed to Boston to see Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)-funded researcher Dr. Steven Dubois.

Dr. Dubois was leading a trial for a drug called larotrectinib, which showed promise for kids like Lakelynn, who were battling cancer with the NTRK fusion. The trial worked. Lakelynn’s tumor shrunk and remains stable. Now, Lakelynn... Read More

During May, we honor Brain Tumor Awareness Month, to raise awareness of childhood brain tumors and the significant need for more research that will lead to new, safer cures.   Brain and Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors are the leading cause of death for children with cancer in the United States, overtaking childhood leukemia in 2016. While leukemia has seen an increase in survival rates over the last several decades due to improved treatments, brain tumors lag behind with fewer innovative treatments. 

Decades have gone by without changes in treatment plans or outcomes in some... Read More

  • University of Colorado Denver investigator and ALSF Young Investigator grantee Dr. Jean Mulcahy-Levy has been studying chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine  for nearly 11 years as a potential therapy for children with brain tumors with the BRAF mutation.
    University of Colorado Denver investigator and ALSF Young Investigator grantee Dr. Jean Mulcahy-Levy has been studying chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine  for nearly 11 years as a potential therapy for children with brain tumors with the BRAF mutation.
  • Dr. Stephanie Hicks, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and ALSF Crazy 8 Initiative grantee, is working to create the tools required to analyze childhood cancer data at the single-cell level.
    Dr. Stephanie Hicks, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and ALSF Crazy 8 Initiative grantee, is working to create the tools required to analyze childhood cancer data at the single-cell level.
  • Dr. Michelle Monje has been funded by ALSF through several grant programs to study DIPG and is currently co-leading the Crazy 8 Initiative’s High-Grade Glioma working group.
  • Above, Dr. Yael Mosse, MD from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, together with two of patients Edie and Emily Gilger,  shares the remarkable story of a research breakthrough with guests at the 2019 Lemon Ball.
  • Above, Dr. Jennifer Foster with her patient Eden Green. Dr. Foster led a clinical trial for children with relapsed solid tumors. 

Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer in the United States. Globally, cancer stole 11.5 million years of healthy life away from children in 2017. Childhood cancer diagnoses don’t stop and neither do the dedicated researchers working to make childhood cancer history. 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) works to fund researchers at all points in their career — from the Pediatric Oncology Student Training (POST)... Read More

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