sarcoma

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Pediatric cancers are caused by genetic mutations. “However, since these mutations are unique to pediatric cancer, unique drugs need to be developed to treat these cancers,” explains Patrick Grohar, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatric hematology-oncology at Vanderbilt University and a St. Baldrick’s research grant recipient.

Dr. Grohar is working to develop new drugs that target one particular mutation found in Ewing sarcoma tumors, ultimately yielding more effective and less toxic treatments for this form of childhood cancer.

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Rolando was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma when he was 13. On doctors’ recommendations, Rolando and his family moved from Cuba to the United States to seek treatment.

Ask a parent of a child with cancer and they’ll tell you the same thing. Often, parents of children with cancer face these difficult questions daily, and the answers are never simple: How can I do more for my child? How can I be sure they are getting the best treatments available to them? How do I balance their needs with the needs of the rest of my family?

Tamara Peñaranda is one parent who can tell you firsthand about the sacrifices her family has made for her son, Rolando — sacrifices that, in the end, were a small price to pay for her son’s health and happiness.

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Washington wide receiver, Pierre Garcon, and New York linebacker, Mark Herzlich, go head-to-head to see who can raise the most money for childhood cancer research.

The two players, and division foes, will engage in a month-long competition to see who can raise the most money for childhood cancer research. The effort comes with a kicker — the winner gets to shave the other guy’s head.

The Wahl Head-to-Head Challenge runs from September 25, 2013 through November 12, 2013. Fans and supporters can ensure their player is the one holding the clipper in the end by clicking the donate button for either Mark Herzlich or Pierre Garcon. The player with the most money raised will shave the other player’s head during a live event later this season.

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Vinny was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 4. “Cancer didn’t define Vinny,” says his mom, Sarah. Vinny passed away in February 2013 after a five-year battle with cancer.

After several cleft-related surgeries throughout his first few years of life, Vinny was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer called embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma on February 15, 2008. He was 4 years old.

Being in the cancer world taught Vinny compassion, to never take the little things for granted, to say “I love you” when you mean it, and to never be afraid to question everything. But cancer didn’t define Vinny. His contagious personality, his pranking, his love of life and love of people defined him.

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Dr. Choo is also a St. Baldrick’s Fellow, having received a two-year, $123,149 grant for her pediatric oncology research focused on Ewing sarcoma, a bone and soft tissue cancer that occurs in adolescents and young adults.

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Anneliese was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of childhood cancer, earlier this year.

I couldn’t agree more. To be quite frank, I never thought much about pediatric cancer. Not until February 7, 2013, when a very kind surgeon entered the waiting room and said the words that shattered my world and shook my faith to the core:

“It looks like rhabdomyosarcoma.”

At that point, I was not sure what type of cancer that was, but I knew that my 4-year-old baby girl, Anneliese Faith, was about to embark on what is undoubtedly one of the scariest journeys a family can face.

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The first 46 Mommas St. Baldrick’s event in 2010.

Tiffany’s daughter, Miranda, in 2007, shortly before she was diagnosed with childhood cancer; Miranda during treatment.

As the months of treatment passed, just getting through each day was challenging: Miranda’s body didn’t process all the antibiotics she got to help fight infection, her kidneys took a serious beating, she stopped eating, didn’t tolerate a feeding tube in her nose. I watched as my daughter’s little body shrank smaller and smaller as she lost one-third of her weight. I feared that the chemo fighting the cancer was going to kill her instead.

It was hard for to me rejoice when the doctor told me that, after three rounds of chemo, the tumor had shrunk by 75%, because I felt my baby was dying before my eyes.

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Since 2011, the El Paso Rhinos Ice Hockey Team has shaved with St. Baldrick’s. This year, the cause hit close to home when a Rhino’s bantam player was diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Photos by Oscar Yanez

Katie, a 15-year-old Rhino bantam player, discovered a lump on her leg while playing hockey. Katie is now in treatment for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of childhood cancer.

Katie, a 15-year-old Rhino bantam player, was diagnosed last year with alveolar rhabdomysarcoma, a type of childhood cancer.

Katie first noticed a bump on her leg while playing hockey. A month later, the bump had gotten bigger, and her parents took her to the doctor. A tumor was discovered in her leg, and a CT scan revealed the cancer in her leg, hip, shoulder, and spine.

“As a team and as an organization, the St. Baldrick’s event really brings the Rhino family closer together,” says Tom Herman, Director of Youth Hockey and assistant coach for the Rhinos.

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Motherhood is a sweet privilege.

Having a child with cancer is a cruel torture.

My daily reality: Being “that” mother who lost her child to cancer.

Four years ago, during the latter stages of Jordan’s cancer treatments for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, our family was invited to be the PGA’s special guests at “The Players” Championship Golf Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida.

That would be my last Mother’s Day with Jordan.

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