Gold Ribbon Hero A. Santana U.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: This is my Son Santana. He was diagnosed with ALL 3 years ago on the 13th of November 2012, and he is so excited to hit this benchmark appointment (Last Spinal Tap). He only has two more Chemo pushes to go before he gets to ring the bell symbolizing the end of treatment. Hard to believe how far we’ve come. Throughout treatment, Santana has been so brave, and determined to “Win this fight”. He’s remained positive, and faithful, even in times of struggle. Through his tenacity, he has inspired so many people near and far, and I just know that God has something big in store for not only him, but our family as well.” – Homar U.

When Your Child’s Cancer Treatment Ends: A Guide for Families

Coping with Normalcy: Life After Cancer Treatment

When your child has been diagnosed with cancer, you focus your entire life on just one goal: beating this terrible disease. But what happens when this goal is achieved? Life just goes right back to normal, right? Unfortunately, the return to “a normal life” after cancer brings about its own problems, its own difficulties. Helping your child rediscover the joys of a “normal” childhood and adolescence and restoring a regular school and home routine brings its own, often unanticipated, challenges. This blog will briefly review some of the major challenges you may find yourself facing after your child’s treatment is complete; for additional resources on this and other survivorship issues, we encourage you to visit our website at www.acco.org.

Heightened feelings of anxiety and worry, especially regarding your child’s health

Without the “normal” everyday contact with your child’s medical team, most parents find themselves surprised that feelings of anxiety and worry about their child’s health increase, not decrease. What if the cancer returns? How will I know if my child is struggling with late effects of his or her treatment? Even coping with normal childhood illnesses can be difficult. Be sure that you schedule, and stick to, regular follow-up visits and check-ups with your oncology team, and raise any immediate concerns about your child’s health with your pediatrician. We also recommend participating in a survivor support group in your area, or through the ACCO’s online support group.

Restarting your child’s normal developmental stages

Parents of kids with cancer often find that cancer treatment causes delays in their child’s emotional and physical development. Always being the center of attention, never having to leave Mom and/or Dad’s side, and coping with the pain and stress of the treatment itself can lead to emotional (and physical) regression for younger children and heighten normal feelings of rebellion in adolescents. It is important to begin putting age-appropriate developmental milestones back on track quickly after treatment: setting and sticking to limits and boundaries, encouraging natural separation and appropriate levels of independence, encouraging acceptance of attention given to siblings and other family members, and helping rebuild your child’s (age-appropriate) social skills are especially crucial during this time.

Returning to school

For school-age children and adolescents who have missed significant amounts of school, returning to a normal school routine can be difficult. Socially, many cancer survivors find it difficult to reengage in social activities at school and may initially have trouble rebuilding friendships outside the hospital, while academically, catching up on missed school work can be challenging. Close communication between parents, teachers, and guidance counselors is always the best way to help your child get back on track both socially and academically.

Unfortunately, today’s available cancer treatments have been shown to lead to serious learning disabilities in some children, including (but not limited to) difficulties with sustaining attention, remembering visual information, reading comprehension, performing math calculations, handwriting, information processing, and planning and organizing. If you are concerned that your child is struggling in one or more of these areas, request an evaluation from your school. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, your child may qualify for special services through an IEP, or Individualized Education Program. Be aware, however, that simply being “behind” due to missed school or lack of previous instruction is not a determining factor in eligibility for an IEP.

Find a support network

As always, the best way to cope with the many and varied challenges that arise as cancer treatment ends is talking about them. If you find yourself struggling with restoring your “normal” life after your child’s treatment ends, we encourage you to find an individual counsellor or psychiatrist for you and/or your child, especially for school-age children and adolescents who can verbalize their feelings and emotions. We also encourage you to participate in a survivors’ support group with other families who can help provide both advice and perspective during this happy, but challenging, time.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a non-profit charity dedicated to helping kids with cancer and their families navigate the difficult journey from cancer diagnosis through survivorship. At the national level, the ACCO promotes the critical importance of ensuring continued funding into new and better treatment protocols for childhood cancer. At the grassroots level, the ACCO is focused on the children: developing and providing educational tools for families and learning resources for children in order to make the lives of children and their families a bit easier and perhaps even brighter during this difficult time. Many of our resources are available free of charge for families coping with childhood cancer.

For additional information on survivorship issues, as well as information on obtaining our resources, please visit our website at www.acco.org.

For more information about the American Childhood Cancer Organization and how we can help, call 855.858.2226 or visit:

Want To Read American Childhood Cancer Organization On Your Phone? Click the NoteStream logo:

Why is good nutrition so important for your child during cancer treatment?

The Critical Importance of Good Nutrition for Children Fighting Childhood Cancer

Establishing good eating habits and enticing children to eat nutritious, healthy foods is an issue with which all parents with young children struggle. For parents of kids with cancer, however, the challenges are even greater, requiring untold levels of patience and creativity to overcome. Why is good nutrition so important, yet so challenging, for kids with cancer? The fact is that many forms of childhood cancer, as well as today’s cancer treatments involving chemotherapy and radiation therapy, negatively impact your child’s appetite, ability to eat, and ability to process and store nutrients appropriately, making a healthy diet even more difficult to maintain at a time when your child’s body needs the energy and nutrients from a healthy diet more than ever.

If your child is undergoing treatment for childhood cancer and is struggling to maintain a nutritious diet, or is losing or gaining significant amounts of weight, we encourage you to speak to your child’s oncology team immediately. They can offer important information about your child’s dietary needs, and may recommend working with a registered dietitian who can offer more tailored guidance on the best foods for your child, given his or her unique medical circumstances. It is also important to share your experiences with other parents going through, or who have gone through, a similar experience, as they may be able to offer helpful hints around making eating easier and more enjoyable for your child during this difficult time.

Why is eating right so important for kids with cancer?

All children require more calories per pound than adults to ensure proper and healthy growth and development. The bodies of kids with cancer bear an additional burden, however: they may require even more calories to provide their small bodies with critical energy to fight the cancer and heal damaged tissues. Helping your child take in sufficient calories, along with much-needed vitamins and minerals, will help your child’s body stay strong, make your child feel better, and ultimately give your child’s body the tools it needs to win the fight against cancer. Specific benefits of a healthy diet include:

Greater tolerance for treatment and its negative side effects
Improves healing and recovery times after treatments
Boosts immune system to decrease the risk of infections during treatment
Helps maintain a healthy weight
Encourages and boosts your child’s ability to keep up with normal growth and development
Gives your child more strength and energy
Helps your child feel better overall

Why is eating so difficult for kids with cancer?

Unfortunately, cancer itself, as well as many treatment protocols, can make eating a challenging task for many children. Both cancer and its treatment often undermine a child’s appetite, alter his or her tolerance for certain foods, and even change the way he or she processes nutrients. Cancer treatments involving chemotherapy and radiation often bring unwelcome side effects impacting both food choices and the ability to eat, including: pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, mouth and throat pain, mouth sores, dry mouth, and thick saliva, just to name a few. Helping your child overcome these difficulties in order to eat—and eat well—requires flexibility, patience, and creativity!

What can I do to help my child eat better during cancer treatment?

There is no right answer to this question, because every child is unique, with unique medical requirements, different sensitivities and cravings, and fundamentally, still a child with particular likes and dislikes, just like every other child! There is no right solution to this difficult problem, and many families find they need to try multiple approaches, multiple times over the course of their child’s treatment.

Understand the critical elements of a healthy diet and your child’s unique dietary needs.
Be flexible, and don’t feel limited by “traditional” eating habits.
Remember that your child may require foods that are not traditionally considered “healthy”.
Don’t be afraid to try new foods, and new tactics.
Making eating fun whenever possible.
Keep your child hydrated.
Don’t make eating into a battle.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a non-profit charity dedicated to helping kids with cancer and their families navigate the difficult journey from cancer diagnosis through survivorship and bereavement. At the national level, the ACCO promotes the critical importance of ensuring continued funding into new and better treatment protocols for childhood cancer. At the grassroots level, the ACCO is focused on the children: developing and providing educational tools for families and learning resources for children in order to make the lives of children and their families a bit easier and perhaps even brighter during this difficult time. Many of our resources are available free of charge for families coping with childhood cancer.

For additional information on our resources or information on how to obtain our resources free of charge, please visit our website at www.acco.org.

For more information about the American Childhood Cancer Organization and how we can help, call 855.858.2226 or visit:

Want To Read American Childhood Cancer Organization On Your Phone? Click the NoteStream logo:

Gold Ribbon Hero Kamryn S.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Kamryn is a cancer survivor. Easter weekend of 2014 she was diagnosed with a wilms tumor (kidney). They opened her up to remove the kidney and found it had ruptured so they were on able to remove the kidney at that time. She then had chemo for 6 weeks. After that round of chemo she went to Sloan Kettering in NYC to have the kidney and tumor removed. She then went through more chemo and radiation. Kamryn was a tough girl through the whole process and always kept smiling and making other laugh. She is now cancer free. They do test every 3 months to make sure she is fine.

Last month a friends of her moms sister was diagnosed with breast cancer so Kamryn wrote her a letter telling her she can beat cancer too.

She is our hero.” – Pamela M.

Gold Ribbon Hero Aracely G.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Aracely has been battling Pineoblastoma since June 1st 2015. She has currently been hospitalized for 171 days. She has endured 3 brain surgeries and 5 rounds of chemo. She is preparing to start radiation next month. We are so proud of her strength and we are grateful to be her family and stand by her side. She continues to amaze us.” – Kimberly G.

Gold Ribbon Hero Ryder W.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: He was diagnosed with Stage III kidney cancer on 12/19/2015. He has survived radiation, chemotherapy, and removal of his kidney. Through it all he showed us what the face of courage looks like; what the face of bravery looks like. And he did it all with a smile on his face for everyone. My grandson is my inspiration and hero.” – Nancy W.

Gold Ribbon Hero Alicia G.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Why I’m nominating my daughter. In 2013 she was diagnosed with AML at the age of 13. After we found out of course we were devastated. She’s my baby I wished it was me not her. The doctors told us about a studied chemo that they wanted to try so we did. After she started chemo she contacted legionella which put her in the PICU. She was on life support for 3 months. We was not sure if she was gonna make it. She was fighting to diseases. Which after 139 days in the hospital she was our miracle child, she beat both and u got to bring her home cancer free. Then she relapsed thanksgiving last year 2014, but with the help of her older brother Jeremy she is once more cancer free. See she had to have a bone marrow transplant in February of this year as her brother was her donor. I am proud of both my babies, they are both my hero’s.” – Brenda F.

Gold Ribbon Hero Kennedy G.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Kennedy Grimmer is the bravest 9 yr old boy during his treatment. He is funny, silly, and charming each and every time he goes to the hospital for treatment. He is managing his limitations with grace and tenacity. I couldn’t be more proud of him, my son.” – Donna G.

Gold Ribbon Hero Yanuel B.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: He’s battling with ALL during 2 years!!
He have a 4 years old!!!” – Kenia B.

Gold Ribbon Hero Stephen F.

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: At 33 weeks SJ was born not breathing for 8 whole minutes! He overcame pyoric stenosis, has been fighting congenital heart defect, apnea, and airway defect. June 2015 we got the words no parent wants to hear he has ph positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We are taking chemo and he has had one of the holes in his heart repaired. Through all of this SJ is such a love he smiles non stop, his eyes can melt the young and old and we are spreading awareness all over our area that kids get cancer too!” – Jamie E.