Childhood Cancer Survivors has been a valuable resource for survivors and families for the past 25 years since the first edition. We want to thank Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for giving us the opportunity to participate in editing and updating this fourth edition in collaboration with several new authors. The legacy of what Alex and her family started in 2005 lives on through the millions of dollars raised and given in support of survivors and families, and toward invaluable research. We thank ALSF for their vision and dedication to continue to update and revise this book which has been read and used as an invaluable resource for thousands of survivors and families. Alex’s legacy lives on through this book and all the personal survivor stories that appear in this fourth edition.

We sincerely thank the previous edition authors, including Kathy Ruccione, for their incredible work and research. Our hope and intent was to build upon their excellent foundation and the information so clearly presented and to revise and introduce new information affecting survivors and their families. Both of us want to give a special thank-you to Wendy Hobbie who not only was one of the original coauthors but for her life and work in childhood cancer which inspired and motivated us to pursue careers in support of childhood cancer survivors and families.

Many people were involved in the production of this fourth edition. We especially thank our new authors for their excellent new contributions: Matthew C. Hocking, PhD (Ch 3 Relationships), Victoria E. Cosgrove, PhD (Ch 2 Emotions) Liron D. Grossmann, MD and John M. Maris, MD (Ch 6 Genetic Testing in Childhood Cancer), and Kasey Massa, LCSW (Ch 4 Navigating the System).

We especially want to thank the survivors and families who contributed personal stories about their own survivorship journeys: Lindsey, Margaret, Nick, Maggie, Gigi, Jennifer, Julia, Breeonne, Jason, Jeanette, Grace, Taylor, Ashley, Brittney, Shameeza, King, Trish, Lily, Yusef, and Daniel.

Each story is unique and very personal, sometimes gut-wrenching and painful and other times, uplifting and hopeful. These personal accounts are an integral part of the book and will greatly impact other survivors and families bringing hope and guidance as they navigate through their journeys emotionally and physically. We are deeply grateful for your candor and the legacy of truth and hope which will be such an inspiration to others, those just beginning their journey and for those yet to come.

We would also like to thank Katie Newell, Caroline O’Rorke, and the team at ALSF for their hard work and many hours spent interviewing survivors and families and collecting their stories.

And lastly, we thank our amazing project editors, Marty and Carole Wonsiewicz, who helped in the editing process, kept us on schedule, and kept the work flowing with ease.

Lisa Bashore & Joanne Quillen, co-editors