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September is Childhood Cancer Month. I lost my sister to Brain Cancer in 1996 when she was 15 I lost my son to Bone Cancer in 2013 when he was 12 Most Cancer

by baldfat 11y ago

September is Childhood Cancer Month. I lost my sister to Brain Cancer in 1996 when she was 15 I lost my son to Bone Cancer in 2013 when he was 12 Most Cancer Charities give penny or so to Childhood Cancer research and Federal Research Grants give 4 cents to the dollar to Childhood Cancer research. In the last 20 years only 2 new drugs have been approved till a 3rd this spring. St Baldrick's and Childhood Cancer Research Fund give the majority of their funds to research and St Baldrick's actually help find the first new treatment in years with a 30% better results! http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/breaking-news-the-fda-approves-childhood-cancer-drug/ http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/breaking-news-the-fda-a...

brianbreslin 11y ago
First off, I am sorry for your loss, cannot begin to understand how it must feel. Secondly, that is incredible about the new drug, it is crazy it takes that long to find more possible treatments for such a widespread cause of death. What are some more effective ways we can give or help that won't be eaten up by overhead of the charities?
- smt88 11y ago
  Cancer is a widespread cause of death, but unfortunately "cancer" is a very broad category. Just because two illnesses are both classified as cancer doesn't mean they'll respond to the same drugs/treatment. We're finding a lot more success with tailored approaches than creating new drugs. I think one of the most promising approaches to treatment is discussed here: http://www.ted.com/talks/jay_bradner_open_source_cancer_research http://www.ted.com/talks/jay_bradner_open_source_cancer_rese... I have a friend who works at American Cancer Society. I asked him the best place to donate to, and he said Livestrong Foundation. I don't know his reasoning, but he's brilliant and incredibly knowledgeable about cancer.
martincmartin 11y ago
I'm very sorry for your loss. I lost my wife a few years back, and read that losing a child is generally harder than losing a spouse. I can't imagine someone having to go through something harder than what I went through. And you lost a sibling earlier too. Although I don't know you, I do sincerely wish you strength, and that things get better for you.
- baldfat 11y ago
  A loss of a loved one hurts and changes us forever. So sorry to hear of yours. The one big thing that helps me is to know is they taught me to savor life and to live it like it is a precious gift and to the fullest. So I try to do things they could do but know they would have enjoyed and remember them.
jane_is_here 11y ago
"In the last 20 years only 2 new drugs have been approved till a 3rd this spring." Wrong. In the first 7 months of 2015 the FDA approved 6 oncological drugs In 2014 the FDA approved 10 oncological drugs In 2013 the FDA approved 12 oncological drugs https://www.centerwatch.com/drug-information/fda-approved-drugs/therapeutic-area/12/oncology https://www.centerwatch.com/drug-information/fda-approved-dr... It is true that only 3 drugs have been approved specifically for neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. This accounts for 6% of childhood cancers. Misrepresenting facts does nobody any good.
- baldfat 11y ago
  "In the last 20 years, only two new drugs have been approved that were specifically developed to treat children with cancer." You showed oncology which has ZERO impact on children since they are not approved for children and hence illegal for doctors to use for children. I lived this life man. SORRY BUT WHAT A JERK! Misrepresenting facts does nobody any good but makes you a jerk. 100% true statement 3 drugs in 20 years have been approved by the FDA for Pediatric Cancer! Here is the legislation that the community is trying to help get passed : http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/fda-reform-act-signed-into-law http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/fda-reform-act-signed-i... This isn't some made up make believe this is the truth kids get the RAW end of the stick in cancer research. My son died on a bone cancer that quite possibly has more research money spent on curing the disease for dogs than finding a cure for children. Those 22 ontological drugs are not PEDIATRIC. They don't help PEDIATRIC cancer patients. You misrepresented the truth so fast and hard to your notion that what I said was untrue. The sad fact is it would take less time to find a drug for children and than use on adults. If it comes from adults the research actually has to start from scratch due to the fast growing bodies of children and very few if any have any possible benifit for children.

by baldfat 11y ago

brianbreslin 11y ago

First off, I am sorry for your loss, cannot begin to understand how it must feel. Secondly, that is incredible about the new drug, it is crazy it takes that long to find more possible treatments for such a widespread cause of death. What are some more effective ways we can give or help that won't be eaten up by overhead of the charities?

smt88 11y ago
Cancer is a widespread cause of death, but unfortunately "cancer" is a very broad category. Just because two illnesses are both classified as cancer doesn't mean they'll respond to the same drugs/treatment. We're finding a lot more success with tailored approaches than creating new drugs. I think one of the most promising approaches to treatment is discussed here: http://www.ted.com/talks/jay_bradner_open_source_cancer_research http://www.ted.com/talks/jay_bradner_open_source_cancer_rese... I have a friend who works at American Cancer Society. I asked him the best place to donate to, and he said Livestrong Foundation. I don't know his reasoning, but he's brilliant and incredibly knowledgeable about cancer.

martincmartin 11y ago

I'm very sorry for your loss. I lost my wife a few years back, and read that losing a child is generally harder than losing a spouse. I can't imagine someone having to go through something harder than what I went through. And you lost a sibling earlier too. Although I don't know you, I do sincerely wish you strength, and that things get better for you.

baldfat 11y ago
A loss of a loved one hurts and changes us forever. So sorry to hear of yours. The one big thing that helps me is to know is they taught me to savor life and to live it like it is a precious gift and to the fullest. So I try to do things they could do but know they would have enjoyed and remember them.

jane_is_here 11y ago

"In the last 20 years only 2 new drugs have been approved till a 3rd this spring." Wrong. In the first 7 months of 2015 the FDA approved 6 oncological drugs In 2014 the FDA approved 10 oncological drugs In 2013 the FDA approved 12 oncological drugs https://www.centerwatch.com/drug-information/fda-approved-drugs/therapeutic-area/12/oncology https://www.centerwatch.com/drug-information/fda-approved-dr... It is true that only 3 drugs have been approved specifically for neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. This accounts for 6% of childhood cancers. Misrepresenting facts does nobody any good.

baldfat 11y ago
"In the last 20 years, only two new drugs have been approved that were specifically developed to treat children with cancer." You showed oncology which has ZERO impact on children since they are not approved for children and hence illegal for doctors to use for children. I lived this life man. SORRY BUT WHAT A JERK! Misrepresenting facts does nobody any good but makes you a jerk. 100% true statement 3 drugs in 20 years have been approved by the FDA for Pediatric Cancer! Here is the legislation that the community is trying to help get passed : http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/fda-reform-act-signed-into-law http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/fda-reform-act-signed-i... This isn't some made up make believe this is the truth kids get the RAW end of the stick in cancer research. My son died on a bone cancer that quite possibly has more research money spent on curing the disease for dogs than finding a cure for children. Those 22 ontological drugs are not PEDIATRIC. They don't help PEDIATRIC cancer patients. You misrepresented the truth so fast and hard to your notion that what I said was untrue. The sad fact is it would take less time to find a drug for children and than use on adults. If it comes from adults the research actually has to start from scratch due to the fast growing bodies of children and very few if any have any possible benifit for children.