Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers - A Day-Long Symposium

On April 17, 2009, there will be a day-long symposium at Georgetown University Medical Center ~ for Care Givers, Advocates and Medical professionals on "Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers."

Georgetown University Medical Center - Research Building Auditorium

Keynote Address by Peter Houghton, PhD, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Topics include neuro-oncology, hematology, and sarcomas.



Information and registration: http://lombardi.georgetown.edu/events/pedstherapy

Free Teleconference from Beyond the Cure

Thursday, May 21, 2009 1:30 p.m. CT

The Financial Impact of Treatment When a Child is Diagnosed with Cancer
Presenters: Debra J. Wolf, Esq., Senior Attorney Legal Health, New York Legal Assistance Group and Tami Lewis, RN, CCM, Senior Clinical Case Manager, Patient Advocate Foundation

Goal: It is impossible to be prepared for the financial impact that occurs when a child is diagnosed with cancer. During this teleconference, hear how the treatment of childhood cancer affects finances and identify ways to manage and distribute available assets.

Deadline to register for this teleconference: Monday, May 11, 2009.

Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarships

Beyond the Cure is offering eight $1000 scholarships to childhood cancer survivors. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2009. "College-bound or enrolled childhood cancer survivors who have illustrated the ability to overcome the difficult challenges of cancer with determination and motivation are encouraged to apply. Some of these scholarships will have a localized geographic focus. The N.C.C.S. has limited resources available and a limited number of applications will be approved."

For more information, go to Beyond the Cure and click on General BTC Scholarships.

Helping Survivors of Childhood Cancer Quit Smoking

While many of us can't imagine that our child, a survivor of pediatric cancer, would ever do something as harmful as smoking cigarettes, studies have shown they are almost as likely to smoke as the general population.

The National Cancer Institute's bulletin yesterday featured a clinical trial headed by Dr. Robert C. Klesges of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Efficacy of Tobacco Quitline for Childhood Cancer Survivors (XPD07-140).

For Parents, Caregivers and Professionals: Helping Brothers and Sisters of Children Living with Cancer

Telephone Conference Sponsored by Cancer Care

Telephone Education Workshop Details

Topic: Emotional Concerns Cancer

Date: May 14, 2009
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET

Presented By: Melanie Goldish
Executive Director, SuperSibs!

Deborah Bond Berk
MSW, Senior Social Worker, Sibling Program Coordinator, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Division of Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology

Lori Wiener
PhD, Director, Psychosocial Support and Research Program, Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Insitute/NIH

Michael D. Amylon
MD, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Medical Director, Camp Okizu

Julia Little
MSW, Project Coordinator, CancerCare for Kids

Sign Up for Conference

Request for Nominations: Family Members of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cord Blood Transplant Recipients

The following notice was received from the National Cancer Institute:

Request for Nominations – Patient Representatives Needed for the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation – Nomination submission until April 8, 2009

The Advisory Council advises the Secretary and the Administrator, HRSA, on matters related to the activities of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory Program. Specifically, HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members of the Advisory Council on Stem Cell Transplantation in these categories [additional categories listed in the notice above]: family members of bone marrow transplant and cord blood transplant recipients or family members of a patient who has requested assistance by the Program in searching for an unrelated donor; and members of the general public. Nominees will be invited to serve a 2- to 6-year term beginning after January 1, 2010.

Interested individuals should submit a nomination package to the Executive Secretary, Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau, HRSA, Parklawn Building, Room 12-105, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857 by April 8, 2009.

For more information: Federal Register Notice

Virginia Childhood Cancer Awareness License Plate

Tom and Joanne Kral of Chesapeake, VA are leading a new effort to bring childhood cancer awareness license plates to Virginia. Tom and Joanne started Help Cancer Kids, to honor their 7 year old daughter Kristina, who died on Thanksgiving Day 2006.

Several years ago another mom, Rhonda Jarvis of Waynesboro, VA led an effort for VA license plates with a gold ribbon for childhood cancer. Later, CureSearch picked it up to help spread the word. Sadly, neither was able to generate enough interest for DMV to make the plate.

Who knows? Hopefully this will be the year!

Virginia DMV has agreed to design a special license plate for Childhood Cancer Awareness after 350 or more prepaid applications have been collected by the foundation.
Purchase your Childhood Cancer Awareness license plate through their website for $25, plus PayPal fee. After 1,000 plates are sold, Virginia DMV will donate a portion of the proceeds to Childhood Cancer Awareness Foundation.



Click here to read more: Help Cancer Kids


Please pass this information on to help the effort!