‘This Is Not Acceptable’: How My Son’s Treatment for Cancer Caused Cancer
Clayton was diagnosed with cancer at just 2 years old, but the very treatment that saved his life also put his life at risk. His dad, Jim, tells the story.
Clayton at the time of his first diagnosis.
On June 3, 2009, my wife and I sat in a small hospital room surrounded by our family, as a group of doctors and social workers came into the room to give us the news we knew was coming, but desperately hoped wouldn’t. Our 2 ½-year-old son, Clayton, had childhood cancer.
Learn more about childhood cancer >
St. Baldrick’s 2014 Ambassadors: A Year to Remember
2014 was a memorable year for St. Baldrick’s, with our volunteers raising over $4 million more than last year and funding a total of $27.2 million in research grants! As the year comes to a close, our 2014 Ambassadors reflect on the past year and how much YOU — the people who make the magic happen — mean to them.
‘Miss Tough Enough’ Takes on Second Childhood Cancer Diagnosis
Tacey Raye first battled cancer as a baby, losing her sight in the process. Now, years later, the high school freshman and Texas rodeo queen is facing yet another diagnosis. Help kids like Tacey. Donate today.
Tacey Raye fought retinoblastoma soon after she was born and had both eyes removed by the time she was in first grade. Eight years after being declared cancer free, she’s fighting childhood cancer again.
St. Baldrick’s Researcher Tests New Treatment for Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Dr. Choi, a St. Baldrick’s Scholar, completed a phase II clinical trial testing a new drug to help kids with leukemia and other childhood cancers, and the results are encouraging. Help fund research like Dr. Choi’s. Get involved.
Kids with leukemia, like 2011 Ambassador Julia, sometimes have to undergo a stem cell transplant as part of their childhood cancer treatment. Graft-versus-host disease is a common complication of transplants.
For some kids with cancer, a stem cell transplant is their only hope for a cure. But stem cell transplants are very risky procedures. About half of all transplant patients will experience acute graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD, an often fatal complication where the transplanted immune cells attack the patient’s body.
Why Kids Like Micah Need You
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but kids like Micah need your help year-round. Get involved.
Three-year-old Micah is fighting neuroblastoma for the third time.
Then I think back on everything he’s been through during the past 12 months.
‘This Ride Is Far From Over’: My Son’s Life After Childhood Cancer Treatment
Payton is in remission after treatment for neuroblastoma, but that doesn’t mean his childhood cancer journey is over. His mother, Allison, explains.
Though Payton is in remission, he continues to fight the effects of his cancer. He still sees a litany of doctors, gets cardio check-ups regularly and works hard in physical therapy.
Payton is my very happy, smart, funny 7-year-old boy. If you were to watch Payton in action, other than the leg brace he wears, you would have no idea what he’s been through. He is a survivor. At just 8 months old he was diagnosed with stage III intermediate neuroblastoma.
It started in his adrenal gland, shoved his organs out of the way, and settled in his spine, blocking any function he had below the waist. He went through four major surgeries and six rounds of chemo, plus the numerous lab draws, scans, transfusions, and hospitalizations that come along with the diagnosis. Then there are the consequences of the treatment itself.
Ambassador Lauren Completes Childhood Cancer Internship
During a unique internship with St. Baldrick’s Scholar Dr. Dean Lee, Ambassador Lauren ran experiments on her own blood, leveraging her childhood cancer battle to further research into a cure. Join Lauren in contributing to childhood cancer research.
Ambassador Lauren was able to study her own blood during her internship with St. Baldrick’s Scholar Dr. Dean Lee.
When Lauren was offered the chance at an internship with St. Baldrick’s Scholar Dr. Dean Lee, she never thought she’d be contributing her own blood to science. When Lauren found out, she was elated.
“I thought it was really cool,” she said.
The Dream Team’s First Year
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
The review took place at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and reporting for the Dream Team were co-leaders Dr. John M. Maris, director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at CHOP, and Dr. Crystal Mackall, chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
The review panel included representatives from Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), our partner in making this $14.5 million grant; the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR); and of course St. Baldrick’s.
I am excited to report that this Dream Team seems to be making more rapid progress than most. This is partly due to the fact that researchers in childhood cancer are more accustomed to working with colleagues from multiple institutions than are researchers in the adult oncology world.
Ambassador Lauren Watches ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ Film [Q&A]
The film “The Fault in Our Stars,” adapted from author John Green’s novel about two teens with cancer, has been making waves in theaters. We checked in with Ambassador Lauren, 16, who was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma at 14, to get her reactions to the movie.
Read 2013 Ambassador Emily’s reaction to the novel.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Ambassador Lauren was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 14 and now has no evidence of disease.
Q: You recently saw “The Fault in Our Stars.” What were your thoughts about the film?
A: I really liked the movie and how it showed the good and bad sides of being a child with cancer. It showed what happens behind the scenes and the strong bond between cancer patients. Not just between Augustus and Hazel, but the relationships she forms with other characters. From my experience, bonds are formed that are inseparable even when you don’t get to know people for long.
What I Wish You Would Ask Your Elected Officials
This week, the childhood cancer community is joining together and sending a message to Congress — Step Up: More Funding for Childhood Cancer Research. Add your voice and tweet your members of Congress through SoundOff.
Susan and her son, David.
One of the greatest joys of parenting is watching your child develop and master new things. From stacking blocks, learning colors, and beginning to read, to driving a car and casting their first vote — each milestone is a celebration.
Election days were awesome in the Heard house. There was spirited conversation and a sense of citizenship as we walked to the booth down the block. We would discuss the candidates with our kids and educate them on our values and voting choices. By age 7, our son, David, was well-versed in many issues, and when he came to the voting booth he pressed the buttons and voted for me.
And then cancer came into our lives when David was 8. Voting was one of many normal activities that was put on hold.
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