May might be over, but brain tumors affect children and their families year round. Keep the 83 kids that will be diagnosed with a brain tumor in the US this week in your thoughts.
Recently, 9 year old Kamryn shaved her head at St. Baldricks in support of her friend Delaney, who is battling cancer. In response, her school kicked her out until she either got a wig or her hair grew back. This is the response that a young girl who took a brave step in loosing her hair was given. She should be applauded for shaving her hair to support her friend, not ostracized from her school. This is the response of St. Baldricks: "Kamryn, by your sacrifice and willingness to be bald like Delaney, you’re demonstrating that love is more powerful than fear and that life’s most valuable lessons are often learned outside the classroom." Kathleen Ruddy, St. Baldrick's CEO, shares her support in an open letter to Kamryn Renfro and Delaney Clements. After a massive social media campaign, Kamryn's school board voted 3 to 1 to allow her back into school. This still means that there was an adult who thought she shouldn't be allowed back. ...
May is many things, including some important awareness days & months: Brain Cancer Awareness Month National Cancer Research Month Neurofibromatosis Month Oncology Nursing Month May 17: DIPG Awareness Day I also want to shout out to the months I missed: March: Kidney Cancer Awareness Month April: National Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Week (April 7-11, 2025) & April 21: Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML) Day
Traditional radiation therapy uses photons, high energy particles, to target and kill cancer tumors. These packets of energy hit the tumor and scatter. Proton therapy, a newer type of radiation treatment, better targets cancer. When the protons hit the targeted tumor, there is less scatter to the body tissue surrounding the tumor. This is especially important in sensitive areas (such as the brain, abdomen and spine), and in areas where there are still rapidly growing tissues that are not cancerous (growth plates, reproductive areas, children). This helps lessen side effects from radiation treatment, such as brain damage, sterility and diminished/uneven growth.
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