SEBASTOPOL, CA -- Childhood cancer is a success story of
cancer treatments. This has led to a new generation of young
adults: a generation of childhood cancer survivors.
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The cure rate for childhood cancer has jumped from a meager
10% in 1970 to today's overall survival rate of almost 70%
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In terms of life years saved, childhood cancer is second only
to breast cancer
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For cancers with high survival rates, researchers are now
working to refine treatments so they are less risky and
have fewer long-term effects
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As with adult cancers, new biological therapies hold the
promise of killing cancer cells without damaging healthy cells
Despite this "good news," a diagnosis of childhood cancer is
devastating for the family. Childhood cancer is treated
aggressively, often with a combination of chemotherapy,
radiation, and surgery, at a time of life when bodies are growing
and developing.
Additionally, parents of children with cancer are often young,
have a limited income, and they may have other children.
Treatment for childhood cancer can last from one year to several
years depending on diagnosis. The long-term emotional and economic
impact on the family is huge.
Treatments, research, and parent resources have evolved rapidly.
Two books widely used by parents have been updated to reflect these
changes and to meet the many needs of families.
Childhood Leukemia: A Guide for Families, Friends &
Caregivers is now in a 3rd edition; Childhood
Cancer: A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers will
be out in a 2nd edition at the end of July.
Nancy Keene's in-depth interview
describes the state of treatments, research, and advocacy
for childhood cancer today.
About the authors
Nancy Keene is one of the original developers of the
Patient-Centered Guides series. Her 14-year-old daughter is a
ten-year survivor of high-risk ALL. Nancy has written or
co-written Childhood Leukemia, Childhood Cancer,
Childhood Cancer Survivors, Working with Your Doctor
and Your Child in the Hospital (also available in Spanish).
She edited the recently-released Childhood Brain and Spinal
Cord Tumors.
Nancy is a well known writer, speaker, and advocate for patients
and children. She was the first chair of the Children's Cancer
Group Patient Advocacy committee, and then the first chair of the
Children's Oncology Group (consortium of 238 institutions who
care for children with cancer) Patient Advocacy committee. She is
one of the original members of the online support groups
sponsored by the Association of Online Cancer Resources
(www.acor.org), where she refers parents of children with cancer
to resources and provides emotional support.
Honna Janes-Hodder's youngest son Matthew was diagnosed with
neuroblastoma on his third birthday, and passed away at age seven
on September 3, 1997. Honna is founder of ChildCan, The Childhood Cancer
Research Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, Inc., and
past president of the International Pediatric Cancer Alliance, Inc.
Honna was one of the first five people appointed as patient advocates
to the Children's Cancer Group (CCG). Honna has managed many of the
pediatric discussion groups for ACOR, the Association of Cancer Online
Resources, Inc., and has provided support and reliable information to
families dealing with childhood cancers. Honna has also served in the
Newfoundland and Labrador division of the Canadian Cancer Society
and written a regular health section for a national newspaper in Canada.
Honna is now attending the Memorial University of Newfoundland,
working toward a PhD in biochemistry.
About the books
Childhood Leukemia, 3rd Edition
By Nancy Keene
$29.95, 528 pages, ISBN: 0-596-50015-7
PUBLICATION DATE: May 20, 2002
Childhood Cancer, 2nd Edition
By Honna Janes-Hodder & Nancy Keene
$29.95, 528 pages (est.), ISBN: 0-596-50014-9
ESTIMATED PUBLICATION DATE: July 22, 2002
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/childcancer/
A complementary review copy is available for the media.
About Patient-Centered Guides
We publish books that contain clear, concise, easy to understand
information about the medical, practical and emotional aspects of
health issues. Our authors are patient advocates, knowledgeable
about specific conditions and diseases, who have built strong and
networked communities of patients, families, and caregivers. In
addition to books, we publish in-depth patient information
on the web at www.patientcenters.com.
Patient-Centered Guides is a wholly-owned subsidiary of O'Reilly
& Associates, Inc. O'Reilly is recognized worldwide for its
technical books that provide value to people who are experiencing
information pain. O'Reilly publishes books that make a difference
in people's lives.
