Tuesday, January 27, 2009

February Parent Night/Support Group Meeting

We hope you can join us!

Life with Cancer, DC Candlelighters & The Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society


Welcome Pediatric Oncology Parents to:


A Night of Information and Support*


Featuring: "Art Therapy"


Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
6 - 8:30 pm


At the new
Life with Cancer Family Center
8411 Pennell Street, Fairfax VA 22031


Jean McCaw, Art Therapist, with Life with Cancer and Tracy’s Kids,
will describe the nature and benefits of art therapy for children and
adults during cancer treatment and lead parents in an art experience.


Candlelighter’s Parents will lead a discussion after the presentation.


*A separate activity group will be held for
children with cancer and their siblings, ages 5 - 12.


Pizza dinner for all.


Please RSVP to Connie Connor, LCSW
Pediatric Oncology Counselor, 703-531-1515.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

2009 Dates to Remember

The following are offered by Life With Cancer. All programs are FREE and open to all families affected by cancer.

  • Pediatric Oncology Parent Night (Wednesdays ~ February 11, March 11, April 29, June 4) 6- 8:30 pm. Pizza Dinner provided. Simultaneous Kids with Cancer and Sibling Craft Group, ages 5-12. Life with Cancer Family Center, topics vary each month. Co-sponsored by DC Candlelighters and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. RSVP to Connie Connor, LCSW, 703-531-1515 or constance.connor@inova.org.



  • Super Sibling Support and Kids with Cancer Days (Mondays ~ January 26, February 16 and April 6). 10 - 4 pm at the Life with Cancer Family Center, near Inova Fairfax Hospital. Lunch provided. For kids and sibs ages 5-12. Games, crafts, medical play. RSVP to Jenny Eckert, LCSW, 703-698-2536 or Jennifer.Eckert@inova.org.



  • Art Expression for Teens (Wednesdays ~ January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22). 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Life with Cancer Family Center, Dinner provided. For any teen affected by cancer. RSVP to Jenny Eckert, LCSW, 703-698-2536 or Jennifer.Eckert@inova.org.



  • Movie Night for Teens with Cancer (Wednesday ~ future date to be determined) 6:30 - 9 pm. Life with Cancer Family Center, Dinner provided. For any teen affected by cancer. RSVP to Jenny Eckert, LCSW, 703-698-2536 or Jennifer.Eckert@inova.org.



H.R. 653, The National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009

On January 24th U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and David Vitter (R-LA) introduced legislation in the Senate that would require the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) reintroduced the legislation in the House (first introduced September 26, 2008 as HR 7153 .



The new network is expected to conduct research, provide grants, and issue guidance and recommendations toward preventing and curing pediatric brain cancers. You can read the bill here: H.R. 653.



According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), brain tumors are the third most common type of childhood cancer, after leukemia and lymphoma. Unlike leukemia and lymphoma, childhood brain tumors do not have the same favorable prognosis. Each year, approximately 2,200 children and adolescents are diagnosed with malignant central nervous system tumors, over 90 percent of which are located within the brain. Children diagnosed with malignant brain tumors have only a 60 percent survival rate. Those that do survive have long-term health problems due to the invasiveness of brain tumors and treatment.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

More on the IKAROS Findings

The National Cancer Institute posted this Special Report yesterday, following up on the childhood leukemia findings reported last week:



Genome Studies Yield Insights into Childhood Leukemia

Monday, January 12, 2009

Volunteer Orientation


*Volunteer Orientation*

The DC Chapter of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer
Foundation will hold an orientation program for anyone
interested in becoming a volunteer on

Saturday, January 24, 2008
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 pm
***
Long & Foster Building
Route 28 (across from the Multiplex Cinema)
Centreville, VA
***
We are looking for volunteers to help with these projects - particularly "seasoned" parents who can provide valuable support by speaking with families in treatment.

The orientation will provide volunteers with an in-depth knowledge of our programs and services, communication skills, information on family issues, coping skills for volunteers and confidentiality issues.

Come find out what we're all about!

No prior experience necessary

Complimentary breakfast and lunch provided
***
Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, January 20th if you plan to attend so that we can provide adequate food and handouts.

Email: dccandlelighters@gmail.com
Or phone: Lisa Tignor (703-216-8301) or Meg Crossett (703-795-3340)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

News Articles and Free Teleconference

Scientists have identified mutations in a gene that predict a high likelihood of relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): Gene Abnormality Found to Predict Childhood Cancer Relapse.

This is a very early but very exciting discovery. Details will be in the New England Journal of Medicine next week. More information can be found at:

NEJM editorial: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMe0809819v1

NEJM article: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/NEJMoa0808253.pdf

NCI TARGET news release:
http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/ALLTARGET

What is TARGET? http://target.cancer.gov/about/

Today a teleconference was held on these new findings on pediatric high-risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Brief presentations from principal investigators from NCI, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Children’s Oncology Group, followed by an open question and answer session.


Toll-Free Playback is available through February 9, 2009 at 1-866-357-4215.



Last month the NCI released a snapshot of the incidence of pediatric cancers: Pediatric Cancer Snapshot



Yesterday, Science Daily had an article about the causes of neuroblastoma: New Insight into Agressive Childhood Cancer



During the month of December, Candlelighters again displayed the Gold Ribbon Holiday Awareness Tree. The Washington Post did an article on the help provided by St. John's Episcopal School: St. John's School Helps Cancer Foundation




Finally, there is another free teleconference from Beyond the Cure that may be of interest:

Free teleconference sponsored by The National Children's Cancer Society:

Title: Late Effects of Childhood Cancer: Current Research and the Impact on Health

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Central

Presenter: Paul Nathan, M.D. MSc, FRCPC Staff Oncologist, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada: Associate Scientist, Research Institute: Child Health EvaluativeSciences: Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto

This Teleconference will:

Identify key issues faced by survivors of childhood cancer.

Discuss strategies utilized in monitoring for late effects of cancer therapy.
Develop interventions to aid survivors in living healthy lives after cancer.
List resources available to survivors of childhood cancer.

The final 15 minutes will be open to a question and answer session.

To Register: Online registration is available at Beyond the Cure or call 1-800-FAMILY (1-800-532-6459).

Welcome to DC Candlelighters blog!

As you may already know, we are an all volunteer non-profit organization serving families battling childhood cancer in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. With limited time and money for a newsletter, this blog was born.


We hope to bring timely news articles and events to the families we serve. Please email suggestions to dccandlelighters@gmail.com.


For more information about our organization, visit http://www.dccandlelighters.org/


~ DC Candlelighters



Enhancing the lives of families and children by providing education and advocacy, emotional and practical support, and most of all... HOPE....because kids can't fight cancer alone!