Episode 224: Parenting Through Cancer (Epilogue)

This week, Maternally Yours Collective member Laura Gilkey returned to WSLR to share her family's experience with children's cancer and a number of resources which can help those who are parenting through cancer.

Laura’s blog: http://www.rainbowsintheclouds.com

Upcoming Events:

• Tea for Mothers of Children with Cancer: first Wednesday of the month, 7pm, Tea House, 1869 Fruitville Road
• Rainbow Starmakers Gathering: last Sunday of the month, 2pm, Honeybee Cottage, 820 Central Avenue

Facts about Children’s Cancer:
Each year, approximately 13,500 parents will hear the words “your child has cancer.” Across all ages, ethnic groups and socio-economics, this disease remains the number one cause of death by disease in children. Despite major advances – from an overall survival rate of 10 percent just forty years ago to nearly 80 percent today, for many rare cancers, the survival rate is much lower. Furthermore, the number of diagnosed cases annually has not declined in nearly 20 years.

• Every day, 36 children are diagnosed with cancer.
• One child out of five who is diagnosed with cancer dies.
• Children’s cancer it affects all ethnic, gender and socio-economic groups.
• The average age of children diagnosed is six.
• More than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year.
• Three out of five who survive children’s cancer suffer late-effects, such as infertility, heart failure and secondary cancers. 
• There are approximately 350,000 adult survivors of children’s cancer in the United States.
• That equates to 1 in 640 adults ages 18-45.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a "liquid" tumor or cancer of the blood that starts in the bone marrow and spreads to the bloodstream (the term leukemia comes from Greek words for white and blood). ALL is the most common children’s cancer, accounting for 35% of all cancers in children. There are about 2,900 new cases of ALL diagnosed in children and adolescents (0-21 years old) in the United States each year.

Online Resources:

• MOMCology http://www.momcology.org/
• Children’s Oncology Group https://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/
• Cure Search for Children’s Cancer http://www.curesearch.org/
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine Search https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/treatments/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search
• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1122485
• The KICKcancER Movement http://www.kickcancermovement.com/
• Childhood Leukemia Foundation https://www.clf4kids.org/
• Association of Cancer Online Resources http://www.acor.org/
• Patty Feist (a mother who supported her son through Leukemia) http://www.pfeist.net/
• Caring Bridge http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/benjaminthebrave
• HopeCam http://www.hopecam.org/
• Healios https://www.healiosproducts.com/

Local Resources:

• Children’s Cancer Center http://www.childrenscancercenter.org/
• All Children’s Hospital (this is Benjamin’s hospital) http://www.allkids.org/body.cfm?id=47
• Suncoast Communities Blood Bank (this is the local Sarasota blood bank) http://www.scbb.org/
• One Blood (this is the blood bank that Benjamin’s hospital uses) http://www.oneblood.org/
• Ronald McDonald House (for family members of hospital patients) http://www.rmhctampabay.com/
• Lauren’s One Wish Foundation http://www.laurensonewish.org%20/
• Team Tony: Shared Steps Through Cancer https://teamtony.org/

Books:

• Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends and Caregivers http://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Leukemia-Families-Friends-Caregivers/dp/1941089054
• The Emperor of All Maladies http://www.amazon.com/The-Emperor-All-Maladies-Biography/dp/1439170916
• Happily Hungry: Smart Recipes for Kids with Cancer http://www.amazon.com/Happily-Hungry-Smart-Recipes-Cancer/dp/0985183403
• The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen http://www.amazon.com/The-Cancer-Fighting-Kitchen-Nourishing-Big-Flavor/dp/1587613441/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_z
• Cancer: Here’s How YOU Can Help ME Cope and Survive http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Heres-Help-Cope-Survive/dp/0975987518

Videos for Children:

• Princess Alexis’s Wish Comes True https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLZBgJyvYVleT6gvUKVAQKy_4rUeLpOQT2&v=hsFC697omCM
• Charlie Brown’s Leukemia Episode https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL957B6D130FA217B8