Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Mentor Name: Hui Feng

MYCN is a potent cancer-causing gene, and its elevated activity drives the initiation, progression, and treatment resistance of a broad spectrum of childhood cancers. Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor among children, with approximately half of them characterized as high-risk, which spread to distant organs rapidly and result in less than 50% survival rates.

Mentor Name: Hui Feng

Mentor: Dr. Kristin Long

Background

A pediatric cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family, however, siblings of children with cancer are often overlooked. Despite the lack of clinical attention, some siblings report symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. However, many siblings show resilience. Assessment of sibling psychosocial functioning is crucial in order to identify siblings that are in need of additional support.