Research that Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

Research that Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

While reading this week’s resources and discussion posts, I realized that although some types of research are deemed risky, it is sometimes necessary in order to come up with desired, positive outcomes. I also felt most were only thinking of research in the early childhood field and not children in a broader sense. I feel that everyone has had a family member or a friend affected by cancer. I am sure I am not alone in this but cancer has seeped into my life in many ways. I became a warrior for cancer survivors many years ago when a close friend’s nephew was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. I followed his journey as his family fought for him every step of the way. They uprooted their family and moved to the east coast where he received treatment from a wonderful team of doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York. Through their research, clinical trials, and work with pediatric cancer, they have saved many lives. My friend’s nephew took part in clinical trials at MSKCC and in California not only to prolong and hopefully save his life, but to also aid in the development of better treatments for future pediatric cancer patients.  

I wanted to share his story because it is part of a happier story and it brings hope to children and their families who are fighting pediatric cancer. Jack was a friend of my friend’s nephew and they were receiving care from the same team at MSKCC at the same time. Due to clinical trials, this team of doctors was able to help Jack beat neuroblastoma. To further his success, Jack received a preventative vaccine and is now in remission (MSKCC, n.d.). This vaccine is called burtomab and was developed at MSKCC.  Burtomab was granted a Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA. “The designation was given to the drug on the basis of a clinical study of 105 children with metastatic neuroblastoma who had all been treated at MSK since 2003. Those who received it in addition to conventional treatment with chemotherapy and radiation survived significantly longer than children who never received the drug. Celebrating the ten-year cancer-free milestone is now a reality for those first recruits” (MSKCC, 2017).

I wanted to share his story because it shows the need for research and clinical trials that are risky but necessary to improve the lives of others living with the same diagnosis. This breakthrough in cancer treatment would not have occurred without the clinical study of 105 children for the new drug, burtomab.

References

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). (n.d.).  Jack’s Story. Retrieved from: https://www.mskcc.org/experience/hear-from-patients/jack

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). (2017). FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to burtomab for metastatic neuroblastoma. Retrieved from: https://www.mskcc.org/blog/fda-grants-breakthrough-therapy-designation-burtomab-metastatic-neuroblastoma