The Child Protection Agency in Quebec, Canada, is not going to force the parents of a 3-year-old boy to give him chemotherapy for cancer in his brain and spinal cord, allowing them instead to pursue alternative medicine.

The boy, Anael L'Esperance-Nascimento, was diagnosed with cancer in late 2007 and underwent an operation. After an initial chemo treatment, his parents have decided to treat him with an alternative treatment based on diet, including a focus on raw vegetables.

The province did not intervene according to officials because the boy's illness is not currently life threatening. Healthcare providers at the hospital, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, say that chemotherapy is the boy's best chance to prevent the cancer from spreading, but that they will not pressure government authorities to force the boy to receive the chemo.

What do you think? If chemotherapy is the best treatment according to doctors, should the parents be forced to allow their son to undergo such treatment?

Unnur Valdimarsdottir and team, from the Karokinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, recently published a study in Lancet Oncology reporting on how the length of the time parents were aware of a child's impending death affected their future mental health risk.

The team gave about 450 parents who had lost a child to cancer a questionaire, which included questions on how long before their children's death they became emotionally and intellectually aware of the impending death.

One quarter of the parents said that their intellectual awareness of their child's impending death came less than 24 hours before the death. 45 percent said that emotional awareness came also came less than 24 hours before the death.

The risk of future mental health issues was increased if the intellectual awareness time was very short. Such mental health issues include depression, missing work and taking drugs for psychological problems in the future.

The authors advise that healthcare providers should work to provide information and encourage discussion about a child's impending death from cancer, well in advance of the death.

A recently-published study has found that a significant proportion of children under the age of three with the brain tumor ependymoma can skip or delay radiotherapy by using chemotherapy without lowering their chances of survival.

This research has taken 12 years to complete and were released in Lancet Oncology in July 2007 by the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group at The University of Nottingham in the UK

Radiotherapy can be harmful to a young child's brain, affecting IQ, short term memory, growth and puberty.

According to experts, the survival rate for children with ependymoma is increasing, but still unacceptably low.

A report presented this week to the Journal of the American Medical Association has concluded that some young adults who have survived a childhood cancer malignancy end up having one severe health problem later in life.

The amount of kids that see a health problem in later life represented a minority of childhood cancer survivors, according to the report.

Additionally, the report gave insight into a certain segment of cancer survivors that had not been studied in-depth before, or had been studied without complete follow-up or other problems, lending them somewhat inaccurate. With this specific study, explained in detail here, a more representative picture was given and appropriate follow-up data was collected as well.

Toby Keith has been touched by childhood cancer. One of his original band mates lost his daughter Allison in August of 2003 to a form of kidney cancer called Wilm's tumor.

The country singer is sponsoring the fourth annual charity golf tournament that will once again benefit the families of children fighting cancer. The event will begin with an auction and party in downtown Oklahoma City on April 27, and continue with the golf tournament the following morning.

The proceeds will benefit Ally's house, which Keith helped establish in memory of his friend's daughter. The charity helps pay for medical bills, prescriptions, housing, transportation, toys, food, clothing and other expenses for families that have children with cancer.

Some of the items to be auctioned off are:

• Trip to see Keith in concert in Las Vegas
• Memorabilia from Garth Brooks, Sammy Hagar and Bob Seger
• Sports memorabilia autographed by Tiger Woods and baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle

Toby Keith comments about Ally's House -- "This is a special charity to me. I saw firsthand how a child's cancer diagnosis can devastate a family. Please join me in supporting these kids through Ally's House."

As reported by Jen Creer on our sister site, Blogging Baby, little 7-year-old Nadine, of Helena, Montana is experiencing cancer for the second time in her short life. The first time she had cancer she had a Wilms tumor on her kidney. It was surgically removed and Nadine went through a round of chemotherapy. All was well until recently, when a golf ball-sized tumor was detected and removed. The new tumor is not Wilms -- it is something else that might be related to Wilms but is much more aggressive and fast growing. Nadine will undergo a stronger chemo treatment. If this is unsuccessful, then the last resort will be a stem cell replacement procedure.

Nadine loves princess cards. Her friends and family have established a post office box for her where she can receive cards. Any love and support would be much appreciated for this lovely little girl as she endures what no young child should have to experience. To send her a card, please write to:

Nadine
c/o Miss Rodeo Montana 2006
PO Box 6951
Helena MT 59604

In a recent Indian study, researchers found that many childhood cancers can be linked to the air sources breathed by mothers during pregnancy. The study probed the deaths of all Indian children, under the age of 15, who died from cancer between 1968 and 1980. Findings support the theory that children who lived within a one kilometer radius of noxious gas hot spots were two to four times more likely to suffer from childhood leukemia and other cancers. Children whose mothers were exposed to the non-methane volatile organic compound 1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide had the highest rates of cancer occurrences.

Researchers of the study concluded that India is in need of changing its policies and regulations concerning the control of cancer causing emissions. Not only would an overhaul of these regulations help save the lives of thousands of children, it would also help the atmospheric environment of this much polluted country.

When a child is diagnosed with a severe health issue, especially something like cancer, the life of every family member is uprooted. For those living far away from treatment facilities the burden is made even more difficult by the expense of finding a place to stay while the child is recovering from a major surgery such as a bone marrow transplant. Many large cities offer discounted hotels or hostels for families during these times, but they are often not sanitary enough for an immune-compromised patient. One such haven that is able to help families in need is called Brent's Place. Located in downtown Denver near many of the major hospitals, Brent's Place features a "clean" environment free of toxins to help the healing process for the children. The facility is able to accommodate children who are recovering from bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants, juvenile heart, kidney or liver transplants and all types of cancers. For more information or if you wish to make a donation, click here.

Captain Chemo is based on the comic strips created by Ben de Garis, who was a young patient at the Royal Marsden. Ben was 18 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Ben drew Captain Chemo's comic strip adventures, during his radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, as a way for young children to understand cancer. First published in booklet form, it was later developed into an interactive computer game. Children worldwide can play The Adventures of Captain Chemo simply by accessing the website. With a cast of Captain Chemo animated characters, children help Captain Chemo and Chemo Command in their quest to eradicate cancer. Ben de Garis lost his young life to cancer, but his creativity lives on in easing the confusion and fear children face in the battle with cancer.

In the world of color crayons, art comes naturally to children. Maddox Johnson is a seven-year-old boy who, like most children, likes to draw, color, and paint pictures. Simple pictures, whimsical pictures, colorful pictures of people, places, flowers, stars and sunrises. For most parents, it is refrigerator art, to be displayed with great honor, and then saved as family treasures, long after children have put away their crayons and paints. Maddox is putting his childhood art on eBay, to try to help his parents pay for his medical bills.

A year ago, Maddox was diagnosed with non-hodgkins T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. His treatments will last a total of 108 weeks, and he has to be hospitalized from time to time, once for an entire month. Micky and Tenille Johnson, his parents, who are ministers, have health insurance, but it does not cover all of his medical expenses. At one point, the Johnson family had a meeting, to brainstorm creative ideas for raising money to help with medical expenses that continue to mount, currently in excess of $10,000 dollars, and decided to put Maddox's art on eBay. Last October, people from Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky bid on a Maddox Johnson original. Maddox's school teacher made a successful bid to own one of his works of art. Maddox's art is on eBay again.

Maddox Johnson is quoted on his website as saying, "I pray every day. Most days several times a day and know that God is going to get all the Glory from this!! If you are reading this say a prayer for me today!" The photo is Maddox arm-wrestling his physician. Maddox is winning.

Josh Adkins, 11, has terminal bone and tissue cancer. Jaden Steberl, his schoolmate, wanted to do something to bring some cheer to his best friend. Both boys are Lexington, Kentucky Stanford Elementary fifth-grade students. Jaden decided to see if the two boys could break the Guinness Book of World Records by getting the most get-well cards in the mail. As of Tuesday, 9,345 get-well cards and letters have been received.

Jaden's effort on behalf of Josh has received a fair dose of local media attention, and according to Zone Mom, an email is circulating through the Internet about Jaden and Josh's goal of getting the most get-well cards ever. She has spoken with Jaden’s mother, Kathy, on the telephone, and Kathy confirms that Jaden, her son, is attempting to collect a world-breaking number of get-well cards for his best friend Josh, and that the inspiration to collect the cards was derived from the movie, “The Magic of the Cards.” Jaden and Kathy take the get-well cards to Josh, who is currently in the hospital for cancer treatments, every day. Kathy says the boys look forward to reading through the get-well cards, and Josh's mother says it has lifted her son's spirit as he battles against cancer. If you would like to send Josh a get-well card, Zone Mom has provided the address:

Josh Adkins
c/o Jaden Steberl
101 Rebecca Lane
Stanford, Kentucky 40484

 ZoneMom stated she does not care if there is a record broken or not, please send these kids a get-well card anyway. I agree.

Childhood days are meant for playing in the park, for skipping, hopping, running, jumping, and climbing; for exploring the world in anticipation of every new find; or huddled together giggling with friends, planning sleepovers, attending birthday parties and packing for school field trips. Illness robs a child of everything a childhood was meant to be, and in its place can come a feeling of loneliness. A feeling of being left behind and forgotten, of standing outside and peering into the window of childhood, without being able to go back inside and be a child again. A group of volunteers, each struggling with illnesses of their own, wanted to use their medical leave of absence from work or school, to do something good for children. Post Pals is an organization that helps those who want to help. For an ill child who needs all the bright moments life has to offer - it can be as simple as sending a card, letter, email or gift. Post Pals acts as a go-between, protecting the contact information of the child.

Clinton Hill loved to play in the woods near his home. A peaceful, loving and sensitive boy, he asked his parents to call him, "Defender of the Planet and a Nature Lover." Clinton was 10 years old, when diagnosed with a brain tumor. While undergoing chemotherapy, he created a colorful poster for a club he wanted to start, and named it "Kids for Saving Earth, The Pollution Solution." A year later, cancer took Clinton's life. His parents decided to make his club for kids interested in environmental health issues a reality, using his artwork and slogan. Kids for Saving Earth, KSE, became a non-profit organization, a kid's club, encouraging activities for protecting the environment, and making the planet a healthy safe place to live.

In 1994, Clinton's father died of cancer. For a time after that, Clinton's mother stopped working for KSE, but came back to carry on as president of Kids for Saving Earth Worldwide. KSEW currently has a network of 7,000 schools carrying on Clinton's vision for a healthy planet. KSEW is intended to appeal to kids and the young-at-heart of any age. The KSEW website is graphically designed with the artwork of kids, and offers kid-oriented activities and programs. If your child's school is not sponsoring a KSEW club for students, ask if they are interested in starting a KSEW club for students. My daughter belonged to a KSEW club, through her elementary school, and it was an excellent educational opportunity to involve her in the environmental perils facing our planet. If your school is not interested, head over to the KSEW website with your child, and become involved in the many activities available within the KSEW website.

The International Union Against Cancer, UICC, has designated this year's annual World Cancer Day 2006 to childhood cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14. In industrialized countries, where access to prevention education and early diagnostic care is greater, a child's survival rate can be as high as 80 percent, if the cancer is detected early. In developing countries, where a slim 20 percent of children receive the treatment they need, and early detection education is unavailable, the survival rate is only 50 percent. During "My Child Matters," organized events will focus on early detection education activities for families and physicians.

Some of the symptoms of childhood cancer include: unexplained weight loss; headaches with vomiting; swelling or pain in bones, joints, back, or legs; lump or mass; excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash; a whitish color behind the pupil; and constant tiredness or paleness.

World Cancer Day, is dedicated, through collective action, to a global cure of cancer for all peoples. UICC has 270 member organizations and is recognized in over 80 countries.

Good news for Friday the 13th. The once mostly fatal childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), will possilbly reach a 90 percent cure rate in the very near future. This is due to  improvements with diagnosis and treatment throughout the past forty years. Almost 4,000 cases of ALL are reported in the United States each year, and two-thirds of these cases are adolescents and children. This makes it the most prevalent cancer for these age groups. The advancements in treatments, genetic technologies, personalized care, since 1962 is responsible for this wonderful increase in survival rate, from 4 percent to the 90 percent we will soon be seeing.