July marks Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sarcomas are a diverse group of cancers that arise from bone or soft tissue in the body. There are over 100 different subtypes, making treatment difficult—not every sarcoma can be treated the same. Meet four childhood cancer heroes who are battling pediatric sarcoma.
When I was 13 months old, I was diagnosed with a “one in a million” liver cancer called hepatoblastoma. By the time I was 2 years old I had endured 15 rounds of chemotherapy and three surgeries, including an 80% liver resection. But, today, I am a father to two boys—a 2-year-old (Jan Carlos) and a 9-month-old (Cayden).
Frankie was just 6 years old when his parents rushed him to the emergency room. Within hours, Frankie was diagnosed with a brain tumor called pilomyxoid astrocytoma. For kids like Frankie, the day of diagnosis changes everything. Meet four stories from pediatric brain tumor heroes, who inspire each of us to face each challenge with bravery and to continue to search for cures for pediatric brain tumors
Before COVID-19, coronavirus and pandemic were commonplace words, we shared with you the story of Lakelynn. Lakelynn is 6 years old, a kindergartener in North Carolina and lives every day with an inoperable sarcoma wrapped around the nerves that control her right arm. Now, Lakelynn is battling childhood cancer in the midst of a pandemic.
In March 2020, as New York City began to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malicki family from Wisconsin began to plan their trip East, to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), located right in epicenter of the outbreak. It is a trip they’ve made at least 60 times in the past four years for their daughter Julia. Julia, who is now 5 years old, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a type of childhood eye cancer, when she was a baby. Travel during a pandemic is not ideal, but the family had no choice.
Children with cancer face difficult paths through diagnosis, surgeries, treatments, recovery and survivorship. An estimated 15,590 children and adolescents (ages 0-19) are diagnosed with one of the several different types of cancer every year in the United States. Currently, 84% of children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. are alive at least five years after diagnosis. These survivors may suffer long-term health side effects as a result of the cancer treatments they received. But these statistics don’t tell the story of each of the individual children who fight cancer. These children all have hopes and dreams well beyond the oncology clinic. They have siblings and families and big plans for their future. Meet three of these real-life childhood cancer heroes:
My name is Leslie. My daughter Lakelynn is 6 years old. Her smile and wild hair say it all: my girl is full of joy and silliness. Her smile lights up the room and her energy is contagious. When you look at my daughter, you'd never guess that she misses three days of school every month for childhood cancer treatment. You’d never know she had cancer, unless I told you.
The night before Matteo was diagnosed with a rare pediatric kidney cancer, his mom, Kim stayed up late baking cookies for an upcoming lemonade stand at Power Home Remodeling to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
“Never in a million years did I think my kid would have cancer. We knew about childhood cancer. We were aware. But we did not think it would be us,” said Kim.
Everyday, 47 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer. A childhood cancer diagnosis brings with it fear, uncertainty and a never-ending battle for cures.
I walked into my dorm room for the first time last August and to the outside world, I looked like any other eager, nervous 18 year old, ready to start her freshman year. But, by walking into my dorm room and away from childhood home, I confronted much more than the trials of early adulthood that any freshman in college would face.
Sixteen years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer.
Today is Glioblastoma Awareness Day. For children battling this rare brain tumor, treatment options are limited and after relapse, the disease tends to spread quickly.
In 2016, we shared the story of Chloe Cox, a then 12 year old from Texarkana, Texas who had been diagnosed with glioblastoma. Chloe’s family utilized the ALSF Travel For Care program to help cover the costs of hotel rooms 300 miles away at M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas. Chloe passed away at 13 years old. Chloe’s mom Michelle desperately searched for a cure for her daughter—and now—she is keeping up the search in memory of Chloe.
Here is Chloe’s story.
Collin was a social butterfly who loved to have fun. He was diagnosed twice with ALL, and after 12 wonderful years cancer-free, he was diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma and began fighting all over again. Sadly he passed away, but was an inspiration.
