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Announcing the Launch…

Tag Archives: childhood cancer

Child4Child Starts Today:
Add Your Voice to the Chorus

Today, January 11, the ACCO joins with Childhood Cancer International (CCI) to launch a fun, exciting, amazing new initiative that we believe will change the face…
or should we say, the voice…of childhood cancer forever!

That’s right: today, January 11, we are pleased to announce the commencement of Child4Child, a worldwide childhood cancer event that will bring the children of the world together in song in support of the hundreds of thousands of children around the world who are bravely battling this terrible disease.  And the best part: you and your family can be a part of it!

The goal of Child4Child is to create an amazing recording of a new song—“We Are One”—that uses the voices of children from around the world to produce a beautiful chorus of voices, to show children and families struggling with childhood cancer that the world stands with them, that they are not alone.  By raising their voices together in song, children will remind policymakers, scientists, industry, and indeed the world that the time has finally come to make childhood cancer an international child health priority.

“We Are One” is a very special song composed specifically for this spectacular event by Christophe Beck, best known as the composer of Disney’s Frozen soundtrack. The verses of the song have already been recorded by very special musical talents such as Livvy Stubenrauch, the voice of Anna in Disney’s Frozen, and other incredible voices from America’s Got Talent, The Voice Kids Australia, and Britain’s Got Talent.  On February 15, International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD), the full version of the song will be released by Christophe Beck with these children singing the verses and the voices of children around the world singing the chorus together. It promises to be the greatest super-song ever in the history of childhood cancer!

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

  • Go to child4child.com
  • Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers;
  • When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button to record your child’s version of the chorus;

record the chorus button

  • Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
  • Record your child singing along with BFFs!
  • Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
  • Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
  • Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

This important Child4Child initiative is the first international awareness campaign that aims to bring together childhood cancer advocacy groups, parents’ groups, and survivors’ groups from around the world together, working literally “in harmony” with each other to remind the world of the terrible toll this deadly disease takes on the world’s children. Despite amazing advances in treatments and survival rates for many adult cancers, treatment for childhood cancers lags far behind, continuing to rely on outdated medications that were not designed for the small, still developing bodies of children. More than 250,000 children are diagnosed every year with a form of childhood cancer, and unfortunately, more than 90,000 of these children won’t survive. The childhood cancer statistics are especially grim in the less developed world, where far too many children lack access to much-needed cancer treatments or even, in too many cases, basic medical care.

Child4Child is the initiative of Garbergs Advertising Agency, the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, and Childhood Cancer International (CCI), the largest patient-support organization for childhood cancer in the world with members composed of more than 180 grassroots and national parent organizations from more than 90 different countries. The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is the only US-based CCI member, meeting CCI’s high standards for membership: the majority of ACCO’s Board of Directors continue to be parents whose children have faced childhood cancer or who are childhood cancer survivors themselves.

Together, CCI and ACCO seek to represent the needs of children and adolescents with cancer, childhood cancer survivors, and their families. Working in partnership with international development organizations, policy makers, civil society organizations, health, research and medical professionals, CCI and the ACCO both strive to advocate for recognizing children’s rights and prioritizing childhood cancer as an integral part of the local, national, and global child health and development agenda. Child4Child is just one element of our on-going campaign to make the voices calling for an end to childhood cancer louder than ever before. We appreciate your help, support, and participation in this incredible international event!

Cozy Cat Coloring Contest

How will your Cozy join in the spirit of Halloween fun?  The ACCO is hosting its first-ever Cozy Cat Coloring Contest and we can’t wait see all of the fun, spooky, creative costumes you can come up with!

Starting October 7 through October 23, the ACCO is accepting submissions of pictures of Cozy Cat that you have decorated!  You may use any creative, fun idea you can come up with to create the grandest costume you can think of for one of the five Cozy images we have selected to use for this year’s content.  Crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint, computer graphics, feathers, ribbons, gem stones, glitter glue: whatever you can dream up to decorate your Cozy image, you can use, and we can’t wait to see the amazing results!

To participate, select one of the five images of “Cozy the Port-a-Cat” from the ACCO’s website:  https://www.acco.org/cozycoloring/.  The available options are:

cozy cat coloring contest

This contest is open to all children and teens, and each participant may submit up to five decorated images.  When you have picked your very best Cozy Cat image(s), send a scanned image or a photo of your child’s submission to cperry@acco.org, message it to the ACCO’s Facebook page, or mail it to:

American Childhood Cancer Organization
Attn: Cozy Coloring Contest
10920 Connecticut Ave. Ste. A
Kensington, MD 20853

When submitting your entry, please indicate your child or teen’s name, age group (see below), and type of cancer they are fighting or have fought.

Between October 26 and October 30, all colored Cozy submissions will be posted on our Facebook page, organized within three age groups: 1-4 years, 5-10 years, and 11-18 years.  The top three images to receive the most votes in each age group will receive our special prize: a Go Gold custom prize package.  All submissions will be included in our Halloween 2015 Cozy Coloring Album!

For more details on this fun content, as well as a guide to the complete rules, please visit the ACCO’s website at: https://www.acco.org/cozycoloring/.

Who is “Cozy the Port-a-Cat”?

JournalCancer is a terrifying experience for children and youth of all ages.  For the child or teen who already feels sick, the constant barrage of tests with painful needles and uncomfortable machines, the countless numbers of doctors and nurses hovering around, and the frequent hospital visits and extended hospital stays can be overwhelming.  And for parents, who are trying to provide comfort while remaining calm in the face of their own fears, finding the words to explain what is happening presents yet another difficult challenge.

Cozy the Port-a-Cat can help!  This soft, plush stuffed animal—a warm, fluffy cat—has been specially designed by the ACCO as both a teaching tool and a companion for children.  Designed to be soft and loveable to provide comfort, company, and something to hug, Cozy the Port-a-Cat is also designed to help parents explain tests and procedures to the young child.  Cozy has strategically-placed patches to represent port access, bone marrow aspirate, gastrostomy tube (g-tube), spinal tap, and a hand IV, so parents and medical personnel can use Cozy to demonstrate where the test or procedure will take place.  The child can even watch Cozy have the procedure first!  Cozy comes in two sizes: 13” Cozy is available free to all children battling childhood cancer; 17” Cozy is available for purchase through the ACCO online store.

“Cozy the Port-a-Cat” is just one of many resources developed by the ACCO to help make the lives of children and families facing childhood cancer just a little bit easier.  Like Cozy, many of these resources are designed specifically for children, to help them understand what they are going through and to provide aid and comfort whenever possible.  For example, the Medical Play Kit includes small, child-friendly replicas of many of the tools and instruments commonly used during cancer treatment, including a stethoscope, wrap tape, thermometer, arm board, band aid holder, pill bottle, tubing and syringes, and rubber gloves and two face masks: one for the child and one for Cozy!  The Cozy Cares Journal helps older children understand and articulate the difficult feelings that often develop during and after cancer treatment.  These and many other resources, all available free to children and families fighting cancer, are designed to help families cope and even thrive during this all-too-difficult time.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization is dedicated to offering assistance, support, and guidance to children facing childhood cancer and their families.  Founded and led by survivors—individuals who have themselves or whose children have been touched by childhood cancer and its late effects—the ACCO is guided by a deep, personal commitment to doing everything we can to make the lives of the children courageously battling this deadly disease just a bit easier.  To find out how you can help, we encourage you to visit www.acco.org for more information on our critical mission and specifics on how you can help us eliminate this threat to our children forever.

Kids Can’t Fight Cancer Alone!™

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

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Global Challenge—To Light Up the Entire World Gold

Together with its international partners, this year the American Childhood Cancer Organization issued a global challenge—to light up the entire world gold to raise awareness about this deadly disease—and the response was simply incredible!  In support of September as International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, more than 100 prominent buildings, national landmarks, and iconic monuments across four continents helped spotlight the dire challenges posed by this disease by lighting up gold or prominently and proudly displaying the yellow ribbon, the international symbol of the fight against childhood cancer.  The ACCO would like to thank the thousands of people around the world who came together in support of this important cause and helped us “Light It Up Gold”!

Month of September

Throughout the entire month of September, the world shone with gold: the now internationally-recognized color of childhood cancer symbolizing the brave young warriors and their families who have fought childhood cancer and won, those precious children who have left us far too soon, and the survivors who struggle daily with the long-term effects of childhood cancer and today’s outdated treatment protocols.  From the most well-known national monuments to the parks of the smallest towns, from the tip of South America to the top of Canada and across the entire globe, the world came together to show these children and their families that they are not alone.  We cannot hope to list here in this limited space all of the places that proudly displayed their support, but here are just a few highlights:

  • Bridges: Mont Blanc Bridge in Geneva, Switzerland; Trafalgar Bridge in Perth, Australia; the Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in Boston, United States
  • National landmarks: Casa Histórica de Tucumán in San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina; Blarney Castle in Blarney, Ireland; Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, United Kingdom; Seattle Great Wheel in Seattle, United States; Bridal Falls, part of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada
  • Fountains: Harmony Square in Brantford, Canada; Anzac Park Fountain in Queensland, Australia
  • Stadiums: Fenway Park in Boston, United States; Turner Field in Atlanta, United States; Suncor Stadium in Milton, Australia
  • Buildings: One World Trade Center in New York City, Calgary Tower in Calgary, Canada, Houston City Hall in Houston, United States, British Columbia Parliament Building, Victoria Canada, Parliament House in Brisbane, Australia, Maerua Mall Office Tower in Windhoek, Namibia, and of course, the headquarters of the ACCO outside Washington, DC

For a complete listing of all the buildings and landmarks that participated in this year’s amazing Light It Up Gold campaign, we encourage you to visit the ACCO’s interactive map which you can find at https://www.acco.org/light-up-the-world-gold/.

buildins go gold

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

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Light it Up Gold Campaign

More than 100 prominent buildings, iconic landmarks and monuments on 4 continents around the world participated in the international gold lighting program to raise awareness for childhood cancer. This program was founded in the U.S. by the American Childhood Cancer Organization who hosts an interactive map acknowledging those who took part in their LIGHT IT UP GOLD campaign during the month of September, which is International Childhood Cancer Awareness month. The gold ribbon is the international symbol representing childhood cancer.

“We couldn’t have had such a successful program without the help of our wonderful volunteers who really got behind this effort,” said Ruth Hoffman, Executive Director for ACCO. “And we can’t send enough thanks to the owners of the buildings and landmarks for shining a light the #1 non-communicable disease cause of death for 90,000 children each year, in both developed and developing countries. We look forward to working with everyone again next year to make 2016 even more golden!”

Curable Childhood Cancers

Several types of childhood cancer are now curable; yet in developing countries, as few as 2 out of 10 children/adolescents survive as a result of a lack of access to essential medicines and treatment. In developed countries, 8 out of 10 children/adolescents will survive their cancer 5 years or longer. LIGHT IT UP GOLD will spotlight the need to stop the dying of our world’s children with cancer!

“Our Volunteers really knocked it out of the park in working with the stakeholders at these locations that either changed their lighting to gold or prominently displayed large sized gold ribbons,” said Neal Rourke, International Tribute Lighting Program Volunteer Coordinator. “We are really appreciative of their efforts to make this program a success.”

Some of the well-known landmarks include One World Trade Center; Calgary Tower; Brisbane Bridge; Parliament House; Mont Blanc Bridge; and Houston City Hall.

About American Childhood Cancer Organization: The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization at the forefront of the crucial battle against childhood cancer. The ACCO is dedicated to improving the lives of children living with childhood cancer and its long-term impacts, and to offering critical advice, support, and assistance to families engaged in this life-altering struggle.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW: Ruth Hoffman, Executive Director, rhoffman@acco.org. Cell: 202-262-9949, Direct Line: 855-858-2226, ext. 104

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

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How to StepUp for Childhood Cancer!

#StepUp Childhood Cancer National PrioritySeptember is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: time for all of us to #StepUp and make childhood cancer a national health priority. Making childhood cancer a priority means devoting critical resources towards much-needed research efforts and clinical trials devoted to the development of new, more effective, and less toxic treatments. It means making sure childhood cancer receives an equal share of the budgetary pie. It means ensuring the continuation of critical federal funding focused on defeating this terrible disease forever.

This is not a call for donations. This is a call to add your voice to the growing chorus of people demanding that the US Government commit to funding critical research efforts specifically targeting childhood cancer.

This month, Congress will review a major piece of legislation designed to protect and enhance federal funding for research into targeted therapies specifically designed for childhood cancer. We hope that you will join with the ACCO to encourage Congress to pass the Childhood Cancer STAR Act. As always, the budget is tight and money is scarce, and Congress has many funding priorities to consider. So we need to work together to let Congress know that childhood cancer cannot be forgotten, that the children facing cancer today and those who will face it tomorrow are counting on Congress—and on us—to make their future brighter.

What is the STAR ACT?

The Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act is an important first step in addressing the critical funding gap undermining the potential for advances in treatment protocols for all forms of childhood cancer. This critical legislation seeks to promote research for childhood cancer in five substantive ways:

  • Enhance and expand opportunities for childhood cancer research by authorizing the collection of clinical, biological, and demographic information on all childhood cancer occurrences;
  • Improve childhood cancer surveillance by helping state cancer registries better track incidences of childhood cancer, with the ultimate goal of building a national childhood cancer registry;
  • Improve quality of life for childhood cancer survivors by enhancing research efforts devoted to childhood cancer’s late effects, as well as promoting innovative models of care for survivors;
  • Ensure patients have access to all available therapies by requiring pharmaceutical companies to have publicly accessible compassionate use policies enabling patients access to therapies still in development, outside the clinical trial setting;
  • Ensure pediatric expertise at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by requiring the inclusion of at least one pediatric oncologist on the National Cancer Advisory Board and requiring that pediatric cancer be included in all childhood health reporting requirements.

Why is the Childhood Cancer STAR Act Important?

Support the Star Act1 out of every 285 children will be diagnosed with childhood cancer every year, and nearly 90% of those children will receive treatment through clinical trials supported by NCI’s Children’s Oncology Group. Because every type of childhood cancer requires a unique treatment approach, development of new, effective, and less toxic treatment protocols has lagged significantly behind similar efforts into adult cancers. In fact, of the 109 new cancer drugs developed since 1990, only two were developed and approved by the FDA to specifically treat childhood cancer.

The NCI funds nearly all current and ongoing research into new treatments for childhood cancer, and its success has been remarkable: in the past decade, the survivorship rate for some forms of cancer has risen to above 80%. Unfortunately, recent funding cuts have impaired the NCI’s, and specifically the Children’s Oncology Group’s, ability to promote critical research efforts and support desperately-needed clinical trials. These cuts threaten to halt the promising gains that have been made in many areas thus far.

Only by securing much-needed financial support for the NCI and keeping childhood cancer at the forefront of the NCI’s agenda can we preserve the gains that have already been made in the fight against childhood cancer, and continue to push toward a future where no child has to die from this devastating illness or suffer long-term health effects stemming from current treatment protocols.

What Can I Do To Help?

This month, the ACCO, along with many other groups and individuals in the childhood cancer community, is “Stepping Up” its efforts to make Congress and the general public aware of the grave threat childhood cancer poses to children today and the critical need for ongoing research into new and better treatments. It is our goal, this month, to Make Childhood Cancer a National Priority.

  • We need your help to make this campaign a success.
  • We need your help to ensure that Congress understands the critical importance of the STAR Act.
  • We need your help to give cancer’s youngest victims a fighting chance.

We invite you to:

  • Contact your representative directly and encourage them to support the STAR Act
  • Spread the word by joining our #StepUp social media campaign
  • Change your profile picture to the StepUp for Childhood Cancer logo

For more information on how to join our social media campaign, letter templates for contacting your representative, and specific posts, tweets, and images you can use to capture the attention of your local representative and the community near you, we encourage you to visit www.stepupforchildhoodcancer.com today! We thank you for helping us #MakeChildhoodCancerANationalPriority!

 

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

NoteStream

Oral Health Care before, during, and after childhood cancer treatmentChildhood cancer treatments can affect normal tooth development and cause long-term dental issues. The California Dental Hygienists’ Association is being proactive in highlighting this issue during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and has asked us to share their Press Release. We encourage families to discuss their child’s treatment related dental issues with their oncologist and child’s dentist.

“CDHA joins the ACCO in recognizing Children’s Cancer Awareness Month

Importance of Oral Health and Oral Care before, during, and after cancer treatment is stressed.

Sacramento CA, September 1, 2015

All of us know someone who has been affected by cancer. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that our most vulnerable population, our children, can also be the victims of cancer. In the U.S., 15,780 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed each year with cancer, according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO).

There are many types of childhood cancers that range from brain cancer to lymphomas and sarcomas. Treating a child with cancer involves a large team of specialists and oncologists. “Because there is a risk of developing side effects which are linked to dental disease, seeing a dentist and/or dental hygienist before cancer treatment begins is imperative”, states California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) President Lygia Jolley, RDH, BA. Both the disease and the treatment can cause many problems that affect the child’s mouth. Among these are dry mouth (xerostomia), mouth sores (mucositis), tooth decay, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), difficulty chewing or opening the mouth (trismus), oral infections, bone disease, inflammation or pain in the lining of the mouth and tongue.

Treatments

According to the American Cancer Society , the types of cancer treatments which have proven to be the most beneficial and effective include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and the new technique of plasma laser surgery.

Chemotherapy is a cocktail of drugs given intravenously to kill the rapidly growing cancer cells. Plasma Laser surgery uses focused lasers directed at the affected cells to destroy them. And radiation therapy is delivered directly to the tumor to kill the cancerous cells. Unfortunately, all three treatment options do damage or produce side effects that can affect the patient. The acute concerns of cancer treatment relate to the child’s immediate overall health, while the chronic effects can have implications regarding the growth of the child.

Oral Considerations

“Dental treatment is an extremely important need before beginning cancer treatment”, states Jolley. “It identifies existing risk factors, oral treatment needs, existing risk factors, and oral hygiene care recommendations”, continues Jolley. An appropriate amount of time needs to be considered for oral care before starting cancer treatment. To start, the child needs to visit a dentist and hygienist for evaluations, ideally one month before cancer treatment begins to allow enough time for the tissue to heal following any dental treatment needs. During this phase, the dentist should take a panoramic and full mouth x-rays to look for any abnormalities such as periodontal disease, ongoing infections, or cavities. Additionally, the dentist or hygienist will conduct an oral cancer screening to check for signs cancer may be present in the mouth. Orthodontic braces also need to be removed, and extraction of any loose and hopeless teeth should also be accomplished at this time.

Cancer treatment related dental education for the child and parents is key for good oral health during the child’s treatment. Overall, good brushing and flossing is imperative. The child’s immune system is compromised during treatment, so extra attention to daily cleanings to keep the mouth clean goes a long way. At the first sign of any oral complications related to cancer treatment, the child should be immediately seen by a dentist or hygienist. Be sure to alert your dental provider to the types cancer treatment the child is undergoing. Often times, blood work is needed 24 hours prior to care so that the clotting factors and immune system mediators are measured. Additionally, antibiotics may be needed to prevent infections following dental hygiene care. The CDHA suggests the following care tips:

Gently brush your teeth two times a day, and floss regularly. It is important to continue good oral hygiene practices. If the gums are sore, it may also help to soak an extra-soft toothbrush in warm water to soften the bristles before brushing. Prescription rinses are available to relieve oral pain associated with chemo and radiation therapy.

Avoid alcohol based mouth rinses and extremes in your diet. Do not rinse with an alcohol based mouthrinse – choose an alcohol free mouth rinse instead. Food choices should include foods that are soft and mild. Extremely hot, cold, spicy, acidic, or crunchy foods may irritate your mouth and cause damage.

Promote good bone health. Getting enough vitamin D and calcium each day helps promote a strong, healthy jaw and teeth. Dairy products are good sources of calcium and, if fortified, vitamin D. Other food choices may include fortified fruit juice and fortified breakfast cereals. Talk with your doctor before taking any supplements.

Drinking water and sugarless drinks may help manage dry mouth. Sucking on ice chips or using candy sweetened only with Xylitol is a good alternative. Try to avoid things that will dry out your mouth and cause cavities, such as sodas and fruit juice. Topical oral gels or rinses can be prescribed for dry mouth either caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck.

The RDHAP

In some cases, the child cannot go to a dentist for checkups and dental hygiene care, in this case, and RDHAP (Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice) can be the best option. RDHAPs are licensed hygienists who can work in hospitals, home care facilities, and can travel to the sick patient’s home to provide dental hygiene care. RDHAPs don’t need DDS presence to provide dental hygiene care and they are able to do oral screening, place sealants, and clean patient’s teeth without having patient to leave the bed or his/her comfort place. To find an RDHAP, visit www.cdha.org/rdhap.

Follow up treatment is another part of dental care for those who suffer from cancer. Patient must explain all the medication that he/she was given during cancer treatment including bisphosphonate therapies and stem cell transplant; the patient needs to share the type of cancer, duration of treatment, methods of treatment, any complications before, after and during cancer treatment, and any surgeries that was done. If patient went under head and neck radiation therapy, a 4-8 weeks dental appointment is needed for the first 6 months since oral complications after radiation therapy can happen long after the termination of the treatment.7

Following successful cancer treatment

It is important to receive ongoing dental examinations as after effects of cancer treatment can be far reaching. Relay to your dental provider all medication that was given during cancer treatment including bisphosphonate therapies and stem cell transplant. Duration of treatment, methods of treatment, any complications before, after and during cancer treatment, and any surgeries need to be shared . If head and neck radiation therapy was administered, a 4-8 weeks dental appointment is needed for the first 6 months following treatment as oral complications can happen long after the termination of the treatment.

Children who have been under chemotherapy before their permanent teeth were fully formed, especially if they were younger than 5 years old at the time of treatment, are at greater risk of future dental problems. In addition, radiation therapy near or in the mouth, will affect the salivary glands and cause permanent loss of salivary function, leading to a life long increased risk for dental decay and periodontal disease. Radiation therapy can also cause unintended nerve damage creating taste alteration which can lead to disruptions in diet.

Chemotherapy affects bone density by decreasing the level of calcium in the body. As a result, the growing child can develop TMJ problems, locking of the jaw, asymmetrical growth of face and jaw bone, abnormally sized/shaped teeth, or severe orthodontic complications.
The CDHA recommends visiting its website for more information: www.cdha.org

The California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) is the authoritative voice of the state’s dental hygiene profession. The organization was established 30 years ago when two regional associations merged to form a unified professional group. CDHA represents thousands of dental hygienists.”

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: NoteStream

Press Release: iRacing Goes Gold ® to Raise Childhood Cancer Awareness

acco-pace-car_495x258Bedford, MA (September 8) – iRacing.com is GOING GOLD! To raise awareness and funds in support of families affected by childhood cancer, the iRacing Ford Mustang that paces every virtual race on the popular online motorsports simulation service will feature the gold livery of the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) during its fall racing season.  In addition, links on iRacing.com will enable the more than 60,000 iRacers to make online donations to the ACCO.

“We’re proud to partner with the American Childhood Cancer Organization in such an important cause,” says Tony Gardner, President of iRacing.  “The ACCO is on the front lines of the fight against childhood cancer and iRacing is proud to join them in their efforts to make a difference in the lives of childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families.”

“We’re excited to have iRacing.com join us in the fight against childhood cancer,” says Ruth Hoffman, Executive Director of the ACCO. “Each year in the United States approximately 15,780 children are diagnosed with cancer before the age of 19. In the past year ACCO provided 42,250 of the highest quality free resources designed to educate children and their families in the battle against cancer, coordinated local assistance to thousands of families in need through our 40 regional affiliates and led national and international advocacy campaigns for greater awareness and research. Since 1970, the ACCO remains dedicated to giving every child facing childhood cancer a fighting chance at a healthy, happy future.”

The American Childhood Cancer Organization is the nation’s largest grassroots organization at the forefront of the crucial battle against childhood cancer. The ACCO is dedicated to improving the lives of children living with childhood cancer and its long-term impacts, and to offering critical advice, support, and assistance to families engaged in this life-altering struggle.

About iRacing.com

The company was founded in 2004 by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry and subsequently released iRacing.com in August 2008. Kaemmer was co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, developers of award-winning racing simulations including “Grand Prix Legends” and NASCAR 2003.” Henry is principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, as well as co-owner of NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing.com has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world including with NASCAR, IndyCar, International Speedway Corporation, Speedway Motorsports, the SRO Motorsports Group, Mazda Motorsports, McLaren Electronics, Williams F1, Volkswagen, Ford, the Skip Barber Racing School and General Motors.

CONTACT:

Kevin Bobbitt

iRacing.com

Kevin.Bobbitt@iRacing.com

781.271.1919 (office)

603.930.8384 (mobile)

Go Gold for Kids With Cancer: September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and we need your help!  We invite you to Go Gold for Kids With Cancer and turn your profile picture GOLD to stand with the many children across the United States battling cancer or living with the long-term effects of this terrible disease and today’s toxic, outdated treatments.  We encourage you to Go Gold for Kids With Cancer and turn your profile picture GOLD to raise awareness of the desperate need for ongoing research into more advanced, less toxic treatments for every form of childhood cancer.  And we urge you to Go Gold for Kids With Cancer and turn your profile picture GOLD to remind the world that children, adolescents, and families fighting cancer need our help, because Kids Can’t Fight Cancer Alone!®

turn your profile picture gold for childhood cancer

Did you know:

  • Cancer is the #1 disease killer of children in the United States today;
  • Approximately 1 in 285 children under the age of 20 will be diagnosed with cancer;
  • 2 out of every 10 children diagnosed with cancer will not survive;
  • An estimated 379,112 survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer are alive in the US as of January 2012; one quarter will suffer at least one serious complication stemming directly from the toxicity of existing treatment protocols;
  • Of the 109 new cancer drugs developed since 1990, only two were developed and approved by the FDA to specifically treat childhood cancer.

For families facing a cancer diagnosis, statistics like these are nothing less than terrifying.  We must let these families know they are not alone; we must let them know there is hope.  Research is progressing and advances are being made; for some forms of childhood cancer, survival rates are almost 90%.  Yet we all know that these advances are not enough—our goal is to continue to work for a cure until no child, and no parent, has to face these grim statistics.  The American Childhood Cancer Organization is a grassroots organization founded by childhood cancer survivors and parents and a national leader in the fight to raise awareness about the terrible toll childhood cancer takes on cancer’s youngest victims and their families.  We urge you to add your voice to the growing chorus of people across the country—and the world—who are calling for more awareness, more advances, and most critically, more action.

Why Go Gold? 

In 1997, a group of parents of children with childhood cancer selected gold as the ideal color to symbolize childhood cancer for one very simple reason: it reminded them of the preciousness of their children, and indeed of every child.  One of those parents was a board member of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation (CCCF, now known as the ACCO), which spearheaded the creation of the gold ribbon symbol for childhood cancer and the production of the first gold ribbon lapel pins.  This courageous group of parents advocated for the adoption of the gold ribbon as the symbol of their support for every child battling cancer and its long term effects, as well as the families whose lives have been touched forever by this disease.  Thanks in large part to the ACCO and its continuing mission to educate and improve the lives of children facing cancer and to advocate for new research and better treatments specifically targeted for childhood cancer, the Gold Ribbon has become an internationally-recognized symbol of the ongoing struggles cancer continues to present to its youngest victims.

We invite you to join the ACCO as we Go Gold for Kids With Cancer during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by turning your social media profile pictures gold for the month of September.  It’s simple.  Just follow the link below and join the thousands who have already turned their profile gold.

CLICK HERE TO TURN YOUR PROFILE GOLD! http://twibbon.com/support/gogold-for-childhood-cancer

We thank you, and the children thank you, for your support!

The American Childhood Cancer Organization is dedicated to offering assistance, support, and guidance to children facing childhood cancer and their families.  Founded and led by survivors—individuals who have themselves or whose children have been touched by childhood cancer and its late effects—the ACCO is guided by a deep, personal commitment to doing everything we can to make the lives of the children courageously battling this deadly disease just a bit easier.  To find out how you can help, we encourage you to visit www.acco.org for more information on our critical mission and details on how you can help us eliminate this threat to our children forever.

Kids Can’t Fight Kids Alone!®

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

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Returning To School

Front6by9withFor most children, going to school forms the backbone of their daily routine: normal, everyday activities like catching the bus, greeting their friends, completing in-school activities, and doing nightly homework are so regular that most of us don’t even think about them.  For a family coping with a diagnosis of cancer, handling the daily routine of school can seem like just one more insurmountable challenge.  Yet for school-age children, and especially middle- and high-school children, taking the time to think through how to approach school-related issues both during–and after–treatment will play a critical role in ensuring your child’s academic success once treatment is complete.

Whether your child can go to school intermittently during treatment or whether treatment has required a long absence from school, returning to school can be emotionally challenging for many parents, who face serious concerns about the potential for illness, whether their child has the physical or emotional stamina to cope with a long school day, and whether they will face teasing from uninformed peers.  Yet at the same time, maintaining a regular school-related routine as much as possible can offer your child, and indeed your family, emotional stability and regularity during a difficult time, and will help reassure your child that they have a future that is bright and strong.

Communication is the key to your child’s educational success

Although at times dealing with school-related issues can seem like just one more “to do” on your growing list, opening an early dialogue with the educators in your child’s life will help ensure your child’s educational success both during and after treatment.  The first step is alerting the school about your child’s diagnosis and treatment plan, the expected duration of the treatment, and the extent to which he or she will be absent.  Notifying the principal, your child’s teacher(s), and the school counselor quickly will not only keep them informed of expected absences, it will also enable them to work with you to ensure that your child does not fall behind academically during treatment and keep the school informed about potential limitations that treatment places on their ability to complete certain types of activities or work while in school.

Of course, for many parents, ensuring that your child will not “fall behind” will be a priority.  Helping your child stay up-to-date on school work will require that he or she complete assignments while at home or in the hospital.  Your school should be able to provide lesson plans and assignments for completion, and may even be able to offer academic assistance in the form of tutoring for older children with more complicated workloads.  Many hospitals now also offer academic support for children struggling to complete assignments while in extended hospital stays.  By supporting your child and encouraging them to stay on top of their school work as much as treatment allows, you are offering him or her the best possible chance to return to school as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.

Perhaps more importantly, however, maintaining excellent communication with your child’s school will activate additional resources that may be available to help you and your child as they balance the difficult bridge between school and treatment.  Most critically, of course, is ensuring that your child receives academic support, including additional assistance if necessary, to stay as close as possible to grade level.  However, schools also offer emotional support as well; the school counselor can help your child cope with the emotional stresses he or she is facing.  And last, but not least, the school can help guide and manage social interactions as well, working with other students to help them understand what your child is going through and ensuring that your child receives support and friendship from his or her peers as well as from school staff.

For additional information on coping with school-related issues and establishing communication with the educators in your child’s life, we encourage you to obtain a copy of Educating the Child with Cancer: A Guide for Parents and Teachers, 2nd Edition, edited by the American Childhood Cancer Foundation’s own Ruth Hoffman, and available through the ACCO (www.acco.org).

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

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Late Effects of Cancer Treatment

When your child has just been diagnosed with cancer, your immediate focus is helping your child receive whatever treatment he or she needs to give him or her the greatest possible chance of long-term survival.  Unfortunately, many treatments available today for childhood cancer continue to rely on protocols that have proven successful in treating adult cancers, but which can prove highly toxic for the small, still developing bodies of children.  Therefore, when facing a treatment protocol, it is critical for parents to be cognizant of both the short- and long-term side effects of that treatment, and the potential for so-called “late term effects” that may impact your child for the rest of his or her life.

What are “late term effects”?

The good news is that there have been tremendous advancements in the treatment procedures for many forms of childhood cancer, and five-year survival rates for some types of cancer have risen dramatically in recent years. However, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the two most common forms of treatment, involve intensive levels of both medication and energy that can target healthy cells in addition to killing cancerous cells.  Unfortunately, these treatments may, and often do, cause severe health-related problems later on.  These are called “late term effects”.  While helping your child cope with the short-term and often extremely difficult side effects during or immediately after treatment often takes first priority, it is important to be aware of the types of health problems that may not develop for months or even years.  And as the survival rate continues to improve, but treatment still relies on smaller dosages of adult protocols, more and more children will suffer from “late term effects” throughout the remainder of their lives.

Treating childhood cancer requires an extremely specialized approach from a qualified team of experts, but continuing specialized care well beyond the original treatment to anticipate and mitigate any late effects is equally important. Late term effects can impact multiple internal structures or organs, and can range from very mild to extremely severe.  Doctors should insist upon cautious and active follow-ups after the completion of cancer treatment so that they can watch out for and treat late effects as quickly as possible. The schedule for follow-up will be dependent on several factors like the type of treatment used, the form of cancer the child had been diagnosed with, and the risks associated with such treatments.

Which type of patients are at a greater risk?     

Each child who is diagnosed with cancer gets a unique cancer treatment based on their anatomy, medical history, and type and stage of the disease; in fact, childhood cancer requires a significantly more individualized and specialized approach than adult cancers. In most cases, late effects will be as unique as the cancer and form of treatment. While the risk of late term effects is difficult to predict, some of the other factors that may affect the risk for late effects are:

  • Overall health condition of the child before the cancer.
  • The age of the child when treatment was provided to him or her.
  • The form of childhood cancer the child.
  • The organ where cancer was detected.
  • The genetic makeup of the child i.e. whether there is any inherited risk for specific health problems.

The American Child Cancer Organization is dedicated to the ongoing fight against childhood cancer and late term effects.  In addition to offering ongoing support for children and families engaged in this critical battle, the ACCO is at the forefront of the fight to develop new and better treatment protocols designed to safeguard the current–and future–lives of childhood cancer victims.  From advocating for additional government funding to providing insight into ongoing clinical trials, the ACCO is dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancer so no child has to live with its long term impacts again.

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

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