Last October, at age 19, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had recently graduated from high school and begun working. And then I started not feeling well – I was tired and under the weather all the time.
Pediatric Cancer
Erin has gone through a lot for a 15-year-old, with four surgeries to put in medi-ports, two for tumor removal and two for eye reconstruction, with more reconstruction to come.
Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly: in the United States, 10,380 children under the age of 15 were diagnosed in 2016. And there are still a lot of unknowns about why children get cancer.
Our 2017 tree lighter, Mashayla, has a smile so bright that we expect it will steal the show and warm the hearts of all attendees (even if winter weather starts to come our way)!
Nobody expects to hear the words “Your child has cancer.” Nobody is prepared. And in our family’s case, our son Emmett was diagnosed with leukemia in an emergency room, and treatment began that day in the ICU. We had no time at all to prepare, or even to comprehend it all at the time.
Clinical trials are a key reason why childhood cancer treatments and survival rates have improved significantly in recent years.
Hank found ways to not be intimidated by his diagnosis. Although he is young, he knows about and understands exactly what is going on with his diagnosis and treatment. Being informed helps Hank feel more comfortable.
Although Alexis is only 9 years old, cancer has been a part of her young life for nearly three years. Long trips from Jamestown to Roswell Park for treatment are not easy, but she finds ways to stay positive by listening to her favorite music, staying active and embracing those around her.
In my 30 years on this planet, I have been relatively – and thankfully – unaffected by cancer. My family and I have been blessed with mostly good health. As a journalist, I’ve written a little about a lot of things. One assignment, in particular, will stick with me forever.
Activated by sunlight and present in some foods and supplements, vitamin D plays an important role in disease prevention and overall health. Adequate intake regulates calcium and phosphorus absorption, maintains healthy bones and teeth, and protects against multiple diseases and conditions such as cancer.
Her infectious smile and sparkly eyes light up the room as she dances around, seemingly without a care in the world. Looking at 9-year-old, Alexis, you would never guess that she has endured a battle no child should ever have to experience.
Remarkable progress has been made in pediatric cancer over the past two decades. More than 75 percent of children diagnosed with cancer will be long-term survivors. But treatments that help children survive – like chemotherapy and radiation – wreak havoc on their bodies years later.