Childhood Cancer

What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

You just learned that your child has to have a bone marrow transplant. It sounds ominous. You have a lot of questions. Like, what exactly is bone marrow and what is a bone marrow transplant? Bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue inside your bones. It creates red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. In addition, bone marrow contains immature blood-forming cells known as hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs. These stem cells are unspecialized, and they can either remain stem cells or mature into different kinds of blood cells. A bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure that replaces bone marrow that has been damaged or destroyed by disease, infection, or chemotherapy. It involves transplanting healthy blood stem cells into the patient so that they can travel to the patient’s bone marrow where they start producing new blood cells and promote growth of new bone marrow. Healthy...

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What Is a Lumbar Puncture? What is a Spinal Tap?

What Is a Lumbar Puncture? What is a Spinal Tap?

It’s scary enough to have your child diagnosed with cancer. But on top of that you hear all these new words and terms, which can be overwhelming, such as lumbar puncture or spinal tap. A lumbar procedure is the same thing as a spinal tap. It is a commonly performed procedure to diagnose and manage a variety of diseases including cancer. It is an invasive procedure used to collect the cerebral fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. A lumbar puncture/spinal tap may also be done to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid or to inject medicine, including chemotherapy, directly into the spinal cord and central nervous system. To prepare your child for a lumbar puncture/spinal tap, tell your child what to expect in the hospital and during the procedure. Ask your child’s healthcare team if you can stay with your child during the procedure, and if it’s OK to bring a...

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What is Chemotherapy?

What is Chemotherapy?

You just found out that your child has cancer. And that chemotherapy is part of the treatment plan. Most everyone has heard of chemotherapy. But what is it really? Chemotherapy is any drug used to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is designed to either kill cells or stop them from dividing. Is there just one chemotherapy?  There are many different types of chemotherapy because different chemotherapies treat different types of cancer. Sometimes your child may receive several different types of chemotherapies. How is chemotherapy given to my child?  Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, or by infusion—either an IV or through your child’s port. Or a combination of those. Sometimes it is given topical (on the skin). It depends on the type and stage of the cancer that is being treated. Where and how often is chemotherapy given? Chemotherapy may be given during a...

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What is Radiation?

What is Radiation?

Radiation therapy is targeted energy used to destroy cancer cells, shrink tumors and/or alleviate certain cancer-related symptoms. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays and other forms of radiation therapy to damage the DNA in cancer cells, killing them or depriving them of their ability to grow or divide.  Radiation can be used in several ways: Primary treatment to destroy cancer cells In combination with other treatments to stop the growth of cancer cells Before another treatment to shrink a tumor After another treatment to stop the growth of any remaining cancer cells To relieve symptoms of advanced cancer Radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells immediately. It works for several days and weeks, and during the course of treatment, hopefully damaging the DNA in cancer cells so that they die or are no longer able to reproduce. Radiation therapy is one of the most common cancer...

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What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

Did your family receive a new diagnosis of ALL? We know that sometimes the best people to talk to during moments such as these are those that have been through it themselves. Here at Rally we talked extensively with three ALL mothers who are in the unique position to offer their personal advice and observations during this journey. This is Part II of the wisdom and practical advice from Rally Moms Amy, Brigitte, and Nour. About Your Marriage / Relationship:  Brigette: Consider marriage counseling even if you are in a good place in your marriage. Treatment has a way of dividing marriages many times before you realize it.  Amy: If you are married, protect your marriage. Our experience was that of becoming roommates who rarely saw each other, were always tired, were always stressed, and were not able to have conversations beyond treatment decisions, dealing with siblings, and the very...

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Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

If you’re reading this, someone you know, it might even be your child, may have been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As shocking as it might be, Rally Foundation wants you to know that you are not alone. We are here for you. We know that you have a thousand questions, so we went straight to the moms who have children with ALL to hear their personal advice and observations. This is Part I of the wisdom and practical advice from three Rally ALL moms: Amy, Brigitte and Nour. About Expectations: Amy: This is a marathon. Everything is overwhelming in the beginning, and people, including doctors, will tell you that the next phase is easier. They aren't lying, but honestly, it doesn't often seem easier. Two to three years is a long time. The phases come and go, and each has their own ease and their own challenges. The treatment plan is a guideline. You cannot plan around...

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Childhood Cancer

What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

What Is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

You just learned that your child has to have a bone marrow transplant. It sounds ominous. You have a lot of questions. Like, what exactly is bone marrow and what is a bone marrow transplant? Bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue inside your bones. It creates red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. In addition, bone marrow contains immature blood-forming cells known as hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs. These stem cells are unspecialized, and they can either remain stem cells or mature...

read more
What Is a Lumbar Puncture? What is a Spinal Tap?

What Is a Lumbar Puncture? What is a Spinal Tap?

It’s scary enough to have your child diagnosed with cancer. But on top of that you hear all these new words and terms, which can be overwhelming, such as lumbar puncture or spinal tap. A lumbar procedure is the same thing as a spinal tap. It is a commonly performed procedure to diagnose and manage a variety of diseases including cancer. It is an invasive procedure used to collect the cerebral fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. A lumbar puncture/spinal tap may also be done to...

read more
What is Chemotherapy?

What is Chemotherapy?

You just found out that your child has cancer. And that chemotherapy is part of the treatment plan. Most everyone has heard of chemotherapy. But what is it really? Chemotherapy is any drug used to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is designed to either kill cells or stop them from dividing. Is there just one chemotherapy?  There are many different types of chemotherapy because different chemotherapies treat different types of cancer. Sometimes your child may receive several...

read more
What is Radiation?

What is Radiation?

Radiation therapy is targeted energy used to destroy cancer cells, shrink tumors and/or alleviate certain cancer-related symptoms. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays and other forms of radiation therapy to damage the DNA in cancer cells, killing them or depriving them of their ability to grow or divide.  Radiation can be used in several ways: Primary treatment to destroy cancer cells In combination with other treatments to stop the growth of cancer cells Before another treatment to...

read more
What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

Did your family receive a new diagnosis of ALL? We know that sometimes the best people to talk to during moments such as these are those that have been through it themselves. Here at Rally we talked extensively with three ALL mothers who are in the unique position to offer their personal advice and observations during this journey. This is Part II of the wisdom and practical advice from Rally Moms Amy, Brigitte, and Nour. About Your Marriage / Relationship:  Brigette: Consider marriage...

read more
Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

If you’re reading this, someone you know, it might even be your child, may have been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As shocking as it might be, Rally Foundation wants you to know that you are not alone. We are here for you. We know that you have a thousand questions, so we went straight to the moms who have children with ALL to hear their personal advice and observations. This is Part I of the wisdom and practical advice from three Rally ALL moms: Amy, Brigitte and Nour....

read more

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