The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

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

Sixteen years ago, when I did not even know what USC was, or any university for that matter, I was diagnosed with cancer—tumors called astrocytoma were in my spine. I was just 2 years old at diagnosis, so my treatment and recovery plan was naturally placed in the hands of my parents. From that point forward, I lived with and relied on two adults who knew more about my condition than I did.  

For my four long years of high school, I woke up at 5:30 every morning to go to swim practice and then stayed up late nearly every night to finish my chemistry homework. I desperately wanted to get into my dream school, the University of Southern California (USC), nearly 3,000 miles away from my home in Connecticut. And then, I got my acceptance letter — reaching my long-awaited goal. Yet, my struggles were far from over.

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... Read More

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. 

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... Read More

Eden is a 14-year-old who loves to shoot photos and smile for her own snapshots. After being unable to walk or practice her favorite activity, dancing, for nearly a year, she was diagnosed at age 10 with a cancer no doctor had ever seen before. They tried standard chemotherapies for two different types of solid tumors similar to her cancer and after many months doctors deemed her cancer-free in March 2016.

Last year, we shared the story of 14-year-old Eden Green, who loves to take photos and dance. Eden was in treatment for a form of childhood cancer so rare, that doctors did not have a clinical name for it. After 4 months of treatment on a clinical trial at Texas Children's Hospital under the care of Dr. Jennifer Foster, Eden went back on standard radiation treatment. Thankfully, she was then declared cancer-free in March 2019. Eden and her family celebrated the news by participating in the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Lemon Climb Houston. 

In June 2019, Eden participated in the... Read More

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