Childhood Cancer Awareness: Chemo Drugs

Fact: Most chemo drugs used on children were not developed for children.
Why?  Minimal funding is spent on childhood cancer research

 

Over the past 20 years, only TWO new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric use - Clofarabine (Clolar-Genzyme) in 2004 for ALL and Tenoposide (Vumar/VM-26-BMS) in 1990.

 

 

Two Thirds of Childhood Cancer Patients will have long lasting, chronic conditions as a result of the treatment.

 

So far Liam's only side effect from the chemo is a slight hearing loss

Getting new ear molds made

 

I wish we could see more research being done to offset these side effects

Like this one which could save the hearing of future hepatoblastoma patients 

 

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/trials/a-trial-looking-at-lowering-the-risk-of-hearing-loss-after-cisplatin-chemotherapy-in-children-or-young-people-with-hepatoblastoma

 

Other potential side effects Liam may suffer; problems with his heart and problems with his kidneys