Step Up: More Funding for Childhood Cancer Research

A co-ordinated campaign by The Alliance for Childhood Cancer and the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer

Step Up

Research funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has played a role in every major advance related to cancer prevention, detection and treatment, as well as contributing to breakthroughs for many other diseases. We recognize that Congress is facing difficult budget decisions, but reductions in funding the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will lead to the decrease of purchasing power and slowing advances in cancer prevention and treatment.

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For teens with cancer, challenges aren’t simply medical

The teenage years can be tough enough under the best of circumstances. But when cancer invades an adolescent’s life, the challenges grow exponentially.

When the prospects for treatment are uncertain, there’s the fear of dying at so young an age. Even with an excellent chance of being cured, teenagers with cancer face myriad emotional, educational and social concerns, especially missing out on activities and losing friends who can’t cope with cancer in a contemporary.

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Everyday Hero: 10-year-old sees charity’s ripple effect

Inspired at the age of 2 by her cousin battling cancer, young girl dedicates her time to charity work.

Julia Benedict is not like most other kids: Her childhood aspirations include feeding the hungry, saving the monarch butterfly and helping sick people feel more comfortable.

And she hasn’t even started the fifth grade yet.

The 10-year-old North Tustin resident smiles endlessly at the thought of helping others and beams with pride as she pours over her vast list of volunteer work donating blankets to hospitals, cleaning the beach and collecting cellphones so that military servicemen and women can call their families.

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Local family founds nonprofit dedicated to pediatric cancer research

The names and stories vary, but the result is often the same family and friends of childhood cancer patients organizing and rallying together to raise awareness and funding for pediatric cancer research.

“Pediatric cancers are some of the hardest and most aggressive cancers because by the time most children are diagnosed, it’s already spreading,” she said. “If we could solve that and cure that—pull a thread out of the cancer ribbon—I think all of cancer would unravel. If we start with some of the hardest cancers, if we attack them, I believe we will have a huge impact.”

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Family Doctors in Driving Seat for Treating Cancer Survivors

General practitioners face a dilemma. In a recent survey (Ann Intern Med. 2014;160:11-17), most reported being unfamiliar with the guidelines and uncomfortable treating adult survivors of childhood cancer; however, they can expect to see more such patients each year as treatments for childhood cancer become increasingly successful.

“I envision the development of a subspecialty — either of doctors or nurse practitioners — who deal with cancer patients outside the care of an oncologist and who are trained in survivorship, know a lot about treatment, and know about supportive, palliative, and nutritional care in survivors,” she said.

In the meantime, however, family practitioners are in the driver’s seat.

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Fighting Childhood Cancer Until There's a Cure!