Childhood Cancer Talk Radio Podcasts

Author Sharon Wozny shares with us her first book for children facing the difficult emotional challenges of having a sibling with cancer and the effects of this on the family. Inspired by her volunteer work with the Children's Cancer Network in Chandler, AZ, Sharon describes the experiences she had as a teacher for 30 years and with the organization which helped her craft the book which is half story, half creative journal. Patti Luttrell, Executive Director of the Children's Cancer Network, joins us to explain how this and other works of the organization help local families.

CCTR interviews Dr. Christine Chambers of the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research at IWK Health Center in Nova Scotia, and Dr. Jennifer Stinson, nurse at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto about #KidsCancerPain, a new social media campaign supported by the Canadian Cancer Knowledge Network designed to help children with cancer and their parents better assess and treat their children's pain symptoms. A new application for iphone, Pain Squad, is a game-like program that helps kids manage and assess their pain needs with immediate pdf communication to their doctor, available now for free download. The social media campaign involves tweets, blogs, links to important information, and also helps parents to connect.

CCTR interviews Raphael Rousseau MD, PhD,the global franchise head of the innovative pediatric drug development group at Genentech. Considered the founder of the biotech industry, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. Genentech has been delivering on the promise of biotechnology for over 40 years, and oversees Roche’s pediatric strategy and ensures optimized implementation of pediatric clinical development plans across the company’s oncology portfolio. Dr. Rousseau explains the innovative Pediatric Oncology Development Group and the iMatrix protocol, which pairs medicines with their known molecular targets, regardless of the cancer type. Matching approved and investigational medicines by their mechanism of action expands the number of eligible pediatric trial participants. iMATRIX also invites collaboration within the industry for trial patients and opens up previously untested avenues for currently existing as well as new investigational therapies. The hope is that this approach will ultimately generate more robust clinical data and efficiency, and help researchers may accelerate the development of promising medicines for children.

Annette Leslie, founder and CEO of Carson Leslie Foundation, talks to us about her son Carson and his book, "Carry Me", his inspirational story of hope that inspires the work of one of the most dynamic collaborative foundations for pediatric cancer research and support for teens with cancer. CLF is located in Dallas Texas, and Annette describes the yearly North Texas Giving drive, this year on 9/22/2016, with contributions from all over the world. Annette and CSF is the host of the 2016 Golden Toast for Congressmen McCaul and VanHollen of the Congressional Caucus for Childhood Cancer.

CCTR interviews Nancy Keene, well-known writer and advocate for children with cancer, and co-author of the Childhood Cancer, A Parent's Guide to Solid Tumor Cancers. Her work has appeared in publications such as Reader’s Digest, Journal of the American Medical Association, Exceptional Parent, and Coping Magazine. Co-Author Anne Spurgeon founded, and worked as executive director for, the Badger Childhood Cancer Network in Madison WI. Both ladies are mothers of childhood cancer survivors and are dedicated to serving the Childhood Cancer Community in finding the services they need with the support they deserve.

CCTR interviews Beth Stefanacci and Carina Trenka of Go4theGoal, a dynamic support organization for children with cancer based in Cherry Hill, NJ, and one of the beneficiaries of the historic "Golden Steps for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Walk." The walk led by Baby Shawn who is a local young hero in Niagara Falls, NY, currently battling DIPG, commemorates the momentous occasion of the Niagara Falls "going gold" for childhood cancer awareness. Go4theGoal helps kids with cancer achieve their goals, supports cancer families, and also supports local institutions which care for children with cancer. In our final segment we were joined by "Driven Change", Childhood Cancer Awareness activist more than half-way through his 50 state journey.

CCTR interviews Jonathan Agin JD, father of Alexis who perished to DIPG in 2011 and 4 other young children, and official counsel and co-founder of the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute. One of our country's foremost advocates for children with cancer, Jonathan describes the complexity of our medical research system and the challenges to funding pediatric cancer research, and the importance of advocacy. PREA, the Race for Children Act, and the Childhood Cancer STAR Act are among the pieces of legislation discussed, and their importance to progress with pediatric cancer research.

CCTR interviews Michael Esposito, father of five, teacher, and basketball coach, the man responsible for connecting people in his town of Niagra Falls, NY which will witness the most prominent and powerful display of support for children with cancer this year, 2016. Baby Shawn with DIPG and his meeting Stephen Curry, the prospect of the NFL going gold for a week in September, Go 4 the Goal, PUNT, and Neal Rourke's 2000 mi bike ride from Niagra Falls to Key West with TRF.org are all part of the discussion around the big event on September 1st in Niagra Falls. Updates on livestreaming for the September 1 event will be available at jacksangels.org.

Live from the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, CCTR interviews 4 participants of the 2016 Pediatric Cancer Nanocourse, an introduction to the scientific research process and an opportunity to build a network of informed and empowered advocates who can drive the cure of rare cancers. cc-TDI has for its mission to bridge the gap between promising research and actual therapies for children with cancer.

CCTR talks with Neal Rourke and Jesse Robinson about the Childhood cancer Awareness Movement and the Upcoming September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Today's show features lighting, "Going Gold", the Maggie Project, and Tyler Robinson Foundations's Project CANCO, a bike ride planned to begin Sept. 1 from Niagra Falls, Canada to Key West, FL, 2200 miles. The ride will be gifting needy families with a child afflicted with cancer donations of $10,000 along the way, with a total of $100,000. Action is underlined as being just as important as Awareness for change.