#erasekidcancer with Cook Children's
September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a special time dedicated to raising awareness about pediatric cancer and advocating for innovative research, medical treatments, clinical trials and support for affected families. In 2014, the Cook Children's Hematology and Oncology Center, launched the #erasekidcancer® initiative to unite internal efforts and rally community support - so that one day - cancer is a thing of the past.
Explore how Cook Children's is making a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer. Discover stories of hope, find ways to get involved, and join us in the mission to erase cancer for kids everywhere. Your support can help bring brighter days to countless children and their families.
Lucy's triumphant moment ringing the bell!
You can't always plan for the unexpected. This is what the Garza family quickly learned one morning as they noticed an unusual spot on their daughter, Lucy's, nose. The next morning, their lives were forever changed, when Lucy woke up in extreme pain and unable to walk.
Immediately seeking answers, the Garza's rushed their daughter to the emergency room at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. At 3 years old, Lucy, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Over the next two years, Cook Children's became the Garza's home away from home, and both Lucy and her family looked forward to their inpatient stays and outpatient visits.
Support our fight against pediatric cancer!
Facts about childhood cancer
Childhood cancer rates have been increasing over the last few decades. Fortunately, advances in treatment therapies for children have too. According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO/WHO), the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the Cure Foundation:
- 400,000 = The number of children diagnosed with childhood cancer every year, worldwide.
- 500,000 = The number of childhood cancer survivors currently living in the U.S.
- 1 in 264 = Kids in the U.S. who will have cancer before they turn 20.
- Every 2 minutes = How often a parent learns their child has cancer.
Blazing new trails in cancer research
Listen to our researchers discuss their programs, research, clinical trials and new therapies on the quest to make childhood cancer disappear.
- Targeted Therapy for Pediatric Cancer
Dr. Kelly Vallance talks about the most advanced and promising clinical trials for kids with cancer.
Learn about targeted cancer therapy - Total Therapy Study XVII
Dr. Kenneth Heym explains why this is currently the best available targeted therapy for ALL and LLy cancers.
The incredible promise of Total Therapy XVII - Dr. Pacenta
Cellular Immunotherapy. Eradicating B-Cell ALL Cancer with CAR T-Cells | Cook Children's Doc Talk (cookchildrens.org) - Dr. Bowman
Inter-Professional Symposium: Advancing Pediatric Leukemia Care (cookchildrens.org) - Dr. Ray
Oncology Pharmacology at Cook Children's (cookchildrens.org) - Dr. Zhao
Pediatric Brain Tumors (cookchildrens.org)
United in the fight against cancer
We are proud to partner with the following organizations to enroll our patients on these shared clinical trials without patients ever having to leave Fort Worth:
- Children's Oncology Group (COG)
- New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT)
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®
- Texas Children's Hospital
- University of North Texas Health Science Center
- Therapeutic Advances for Childhood Leukemia (TACL)
- Center for International Bone Marrow Transplant Research (CIMBTR)
- Clinical Transplant Network (CTN)
- Texas-Oklahoma Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (TOPNOC)
- National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)