Archive for cancer
I never thought this would happen to our son
On June 16, 2019, our 4-year-old son, Evan, fell off a jungle gym at daycare. At first, his daycare provider thought he was fine. He got right up and seemed to recover. She called me and we agreed to watch him to see if there were any changes. A couple hours later, Evan started throwing ... Read More about I never thought this would happen to our son
Gliomatosis cerebri: ‘As long as you keep going, you still have hope’
Anna Arabia, the only child of Kathy and Joe Arabia of North Adams, Massachusetts, was 13 when she was diagnosed with gliomatosis cerebri, a rare, rapidly-growing brain cancer. Unlike other tumors, gliomatosis cerebri does not form into lumps; instead it is threadlike, invading multiple lobes of the brain, making it impossible to remove surgically. Anna ... Read More about Gliomatosis cerebri: ‘As long as you keep going, you still have hope’
Following blood stem cells in the body could yield better, safer treatments
Blood stem cells make all the different kinds of blood and immune cells in our body. Scientists have long been trying to make these cells in the lab and use them to make different blood cell types on demand. Mastering these feats could help make bone marrow transplants more efficient and less toxic, and could ... Read More about Following blood stem cells in the body could yield better, safer treatments
Anabella’s story: Hope for treating malignant rhabdoid tumors
Watching her deftly maneuver a playground with a huge smile on her face makes it hard to imagine that Anabella Trillo, 3, once faced challenges far greater than a jungle gym. In fact, she has already endured surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant for one of the most aggressive pediatric cancers: a malignant rhabdoid ... Read More about Anabella’s story: Hope for treating malignant rhabdoid tumors
Going into science: Women scientists at Boston Children’s offer advice to girls
In honor of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11), we invited women scientists at all stages of their careers at Boston Children’s Hospital to share their scientific agendas. Here is some of what they had to say. The scientists also offered their advice for girls interested in entering the field. ... Read More about Going into science: Women scientists at Boston Children’s offer advice to girls
Could leukemia be stopped before it starts?
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood cancer affecting both adults and children, requires more than one genetic “hit” to develop. As we age, many of us acquire a mutation that enables certain of our blood cells to multiply faster than others, forming their own distinct population. This first hit, known as “clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate ... Read More about Could leukemia be stopped before it starts?
Eva rides out the side effects of aggressive Wilms tumor treatment
Eva Quiroz loves horses. The 10 year old takes riding lessons, and this activity puts a smile on her face. Anyone watching her contentedly guiding a horse around the ring would just assume she has always been a healthy child, says her mom Carla. They would see no hint of what Eva has been through ... Read More about Eva rides out the side effects of aggressive Wilms tumor treatment
Maya is moving ahead after thyroid cancer
For Maya Rao, 15, a playful accident last Thanksgiving led to the discovery of thyroid cancer. As she and her older sister, Deepti, fooled around, happy to be reunited for the holiday, Deepti’s long hair — gathered in a bun — softly hit Maya on her neck. It seemed innocuous enough, but then she developed ... Read More about Maya is moving ahead after thyroid cancer
Stem cell transplant leads Ali to remission, and a new home
The journey that led Ali Mercy to Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s began in 2010, when Ali was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). At that time, he was treated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where his family lived. Chemotherapy initially put Ali’s ALL into remission, but three years later, it returned — this time having metastasized to ... Read More about Stem cell transplant leads Ali to remission, and a new home
Survivors of childhood cancer are living longer
Childhood cancer survivorship has improved dramatically over the past 50 years as new therapies have been discovered. Today, more than 80 percent of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer can expect to live five years or more. But what about long term? An analysis led by Jennifer Yeh, PhD, of Boston Children’s Hospital and Lisa ... Read More about Survivors of childhood cancer are living longer