All posts tagged: Survivorship

A Tribute to Pediatric Cancer Caregivers: Honoring Heroes

At the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2), we extend our deepest gratitude to our community’s current and former caregivers. They embody compassion, resilience, and unwavering support for children, adolescents, young adults, and their families confronting a cancer diagnosis or the many complications that arise in survivorship. Caring for a child with cancer is a profound journey marked by a mix of emotions, challenges, and unyielding love. In the shadows of this harrowing ordeal stand the caregivers, often unsung heroes, beside young patients. On this National Caregivers Day, we acknowledge their pivotal roles and the extraordinary commitment they bring to the […]

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CAC2 Member Blog–Celebrating the Introduction of The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act

By CAC2 Member Jess Kean, Children's Cancer Cause. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act was introduced in Congress on December 14, 2022. As the only childhood cancer organization involved in the drafting of this legislation, CAC2 Member Children's Cancer Cause is pleased to share the details of this bill with other CAC2 members in the hopes that the community will join us as we work toward its passage. The Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act addresses care planning, transition, navigation, reimbursement, quality, and so much more. It aims to address gaps in survivorship care and develop desperately needed standards to improve the overall [...] Read more

CAC2 Webinar–Not For Profit Financial Matters

Managing the financial aspects of a non-profit organization can be complicated and at times confusing. In this webinar, Not-For-Profit Financial Matters, presenter Lisa Meacham (Partner, Plante Moran) provides an engaging and educational webinar that discusses: The components of not-for-profit organization finances Understanding what an audit is all about IRS Form 990 Other financial tools Lisa Meacham Lisa Meacham advises not-for-profits on accounting and regulatory changes, provides relevant industry data and benchmarking information, and helps them use financial information to tell their story to stakeholders. Her clients include foundations, educational institutions, health and welfare organizations, arts organizations, professional associations, and government [...] Read more

CAC2 Webinar–Hearing Loss from Cisplatin—Multiple Perspectives on the New FDA Preventative Treatment Option

Children who receive cisplatin as part of their cancer treatment are at risk for progressive and/or permanent hearing loss as a result of their treatment.  This treatment effect can influence speech and language development, educational achievement, and social-emotional development.  Recently, the FDA approved Pedmark, a Sodium Thiosulfate Injection created by Fennec Pharmaceuticals, as a treatment to help reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin.  November’s CAC2 All-Member webinar provided key information about this important breakthrough in improving the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors who received cisplatin. Attendees learned about the importance of this specific drug approval, the [...] Read more

Survivorship Matters Blog: Pedmark – Improving Quality of Life for Childhood Cancer Survivors Preventing Chemo-Induced Hearing Loss

Survivorship Matters Blog By CAC2 Individual Member Mary Beth Collins “Your child has to be alive to experience side effects” It is heard by every parent of a child with a high-risk pediatric cancer when reviewing treatment protocol: your child must endure and survive all of the therapies first, before a parent can afford to be concerned about side effects.  It’s a pragmatic priority; the focus is on keeping your child alive and achieving No Evidence of Disease, or ”NED” as commonly referenced.  With the most challenging cancers, it is spoken with earnest and delicate honesty. Today, according to the […]

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Survivorship Matters Blog: Recapturing the Dream

Survivorship Matters Blog By CAC2 Member Mary Beth Collins, PREP4Gold During his teens, my neuroblastoma survivor Joshua was struggling in every way a person could struggle. Puberty had brought on new long term side effects, and reinvigorated old ones that we thought were behind us. His chemo-induced hearing loss progressed from moderate-to-severe to profound, and his hearing aides became a trigger for his migraines. The combinations of cognitive impact, cluster migraines, and chemo-induced ADHD made education almost impossible. He was doing the best he could on home/hospital care with a teacher who visited the house a few times a week. […]

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CAC2 Webinar–Better Together: Survivorship Connection

In our February CAC2 All-Member webinar CAC2 invited the Survivorship Interest Group's Better Together committee to discuss their Project Incubator initiative.  Led by Mariah Forster Olson, and joined by committee members, Nick Giallourakis and Carolyn Breinich, this project would enable survivors and their parents, caregivers, and other family members, as well as nonprofit organizations and healthcare professionals, to be connected with available resources, programs, and services to assist in the lifelong journey of childhood cancer survivorship. This will be accomplished using our Better Together spreadsheet, as well as a unique, personalized approach. Read more

CAC2 Webinar–Multimorbidity from Surviving Childhood Cancer: Using Data to Improve Shared Decision-Making

In our December CAC2 All-Member webinar, Mariah Forster Olson (Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Society) represented the CAC2 Survivorship Interest Group and hosted Nickhill Bhakta, MD, MPH. Dr. Bhakta.  Dr. Bhakta discussed why the academic approach of thinking about one childhood cancer with one treatment exposure with one chronic condition is not a realistic way of solving long-term disease burden experienced by survivors.  He discussed his work and efforts to engage survivorship groups to guide relevant and meaningful improvements in decision-making between all stakeholders involved in the healthcare of the survivor. Read more

Survivorship Matters Blog: Surviving Scanxiety in Childhood Cancer Survivorship

Survivorship Matters Blog By CAC2 Member Mary Beth Collins, PREP4Gold SCANXIETY –  just the word generates response in the childhood cancer community. One might tense up, suck in some air, get nauseous, or experience a tightening of the chest. There is no minimizing the concern that families endure before the scanning process and receiving the results that confirm the potential of cancer in your child’s body. It is a very sensitive, stress-inducing part of the childhood cancer journey. What is Scanxiety? Scanxiety – or scan anxiety – is a relatively new term. We didn’t have such a reference when my [...] Read more

CAC2 Member Blog–Taking Childhood Cancer Advocacy on the Road: Childhood Cancer License Plates

By CAC2 Member Mary Beth Collins, PREP4Gold For the entire month of September the world hears a great deal from the childhood cancer community, feverishly raising awareness, advocating for programs & funding, and sharing stories about treatment, survivorship, and bereavement. Social media posts are in abundance, medical experts and advocates are interviewed, and researchers publish papers with the latest data. Each day of the month, there is a great deal provided about childhood cancer as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) continues to strengthen in message and resolve. Come October 1st, some wonder what can be done to sustain some of [...] Read more