CureSearch Goes MOM on Cancer

 

This month CureSearch goes MOM on cancer!! And so can you!

Moms are relentless, fighting hard, and sacrificing anything to help their children. We're making mom's energy into a verb. Because whether you're a mom, a dad, a grandparent, sibling, doctor, or anyone who loves, or has loved, a child with cancer, you know that MOM energy describes what is required in the pursuit of cures.

Who are CureSearch?

For more than 25 years, CureSearch has been a leader in funding children's cancer research. During this time, overall cure rates have increased from approximately 40% to 80%. But, for many of the more rare cancers, cure rates remain unchanged. During this same time, only 2 drugs have been specifically developed for children's cancer, a number that is simply not acceptable. Today, as they did decades ago, children are treated using medications developed for adults, but in much higher doses. With decades to live after treatment, children often experience significant side effects and secondary cancers later in life.

Now, the field is changing. Advances in genomics are enabling researchers to understand more and more about the various types of children's cancer – from how they begin at the cellular level to what impact specific therapeutic agents have. Such understanding is expected to lead quickly to new, targeted treatments, if funding is available.

To help us define and launch a new scientific vision, CureSearch convened a Scientific Advisory Council featuring some of the brightest and most innovative thinkers in the cancer research field. Together, this venerable group has set a strong vision for how CureSearch might stand at the intersection of medical, scientific, and commercial sectors to bring patients to the forefront as we solve for a cure. In partnership, we have articulated the following scientific vision:

CureSearch will accelerate the cure for children's cancer by driving innovation, eliminating research barriers, and solving the field's most intractable problems.

CureSearch will continue to fund collaborative clinical trials so that children in treatment today have access to the latest medicines at hospitals close to home.

Ultimately, CureSearch hopes to change the odds for those children who are most at risk.

 

How did I became familiar with CureSearch?

Cure search is currently funding the clinical trial for my sons cancer treatment protocol. In a previous post I spoke of my son, Rocco's, diagnosis of leukemia. What I didn't talk about, was that we opted to be part of a clinical trial.  When all the tests were in 30 days after diagnosis, we met with his doctor to go over his treatment and options. It was determined that Rocco was low-risk ALL. Woo-hoo!! It felt weird to celebrate that diagnosis, but trust me it was worth celebrating.  Rocco was the first low risk patient they have had in several years so it was happy moment for the staff as well! Rocco, my husband and I sat down with Dr. Elliott and Nurse Sue to go over the options. First, Dr. Elliott when over the standard treatment. Up to this point, I had processed the diagnosis, surgery for his port, transfusions, and all other appointments very well. After the explanation of the standard protocol, my head was reeling and my brain wanted to shut down.  Then, she went over the low-risk protocol for the new clinical trial. The difference was like being handed a book and a pamphlet.  There were so many medications involved in the standard protocol that I could not wrap my brain around it. Then the clinical trial seemed like it would be so much easier on him that it was a no brainer to decided what we wanted.  We wanted to part of the clinical trial. But wait..... once we made that decision we had to be randomized. Rocco was put into the system and that would decide if he would get the low-risk protocol or the standard protocol.  Thank, God (He heard my prayers)! We got the new low-risk protocol.  It took me 3 days to get that standard protocol out of my head.  That is how overwhelming it was for me.  Because of CureSearch and this clinical trial, Rocco is having a much easier time than I believe he would have otherwise.  That is just my opinion as a mom.

 

My goal in the future is to give back to those who have given to us through this difficult time.  Here are ways you can help CureSearch:

Donate 

Fundraising Events 

Go MOM on Cancer 

Legacy Fund 

Corporate Giving 

Volunteer 

Advocate 

Patient / Family Data Form 

Please feel free to share your story in the comments section so others can see our Warriors and how brave and awesome they are!  And, please, share my blog and spread the awareness.

 

Photos courtesy of: CureSearch.org and facebook.com
Information courtesy of: CureSearch.org