The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

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

Leevi was diagnosed at age 2 with ependymoma and relapsed at age 5. After frontline treatment failed, Leevi enrolled in a clinical trial.

Oncology researcher Dr. Meenaskshi Hegde, from Texas Children’s Hospital, is working to change the outcome for kids facing ependymoma and to ensure that treatments are available at several institutions. 

Using Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Center of Excellence (COE) grant funding, Dr. Hegde is leading a Phase 1 study of CAR T cells for patients with refractory or relapsed ependymoma. The study, which opened in early 2022 at three children’s hospitals, will give patients access to treatment... Read More

  • jaxson's nurse
    Jaxson's nurse made sure his Halloween in the hospital was special and memorable
  • claire's mom
    Claire battled Ewing sarcoma. Her mom recalls that all the nurses took good care of both Claire and her family.
  • tony's nurse
    Tony's nurse Amanda bonded with him while Tony was in a coma. Later, she'd make the trip to his Eagle Scout ceremony.

Nurses play a critical role in the lives of children facing cancer. Beyond their medical expertise supporting treatment, managing medications and answering family questions, pediatric oncology nurses also fill a critical comfort and care role for families. This emotional support is so important to parents, affected children and siblings when life is at its most uncertain. 

These are nurses that families need. Here are the five things you should know about pediatric oncology nurses:

1.    They know when you need a hug. 

When Claire was in treatment for Ewing sarcoma... Read More

  • Now: Taylor, with her son Wallace.
  • Then: Taylor was just 11 years old when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma

Taylor never thought she’d have her son Wallace. 

When she was 11 years old, Taylor was diagnosed with a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. 

The diagnosis came after a summer spent with her local swim team. Taylor had shoulder pain, and swimming seemed the logical culprit. But the pain kept increasing to the point that her arm became numb. An X-ray revealed a mass; further testing revealed that the mass was osteosarcoma. 

“When I first walked into the oncology clinic, the first thing I noticed was all these kids did not have hair,” recalls Taylor. 

Taylor... Read More

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