Kids with leukemia and lymphoma now have access to one of the latest advancements in treatment, a revolutionary immunotherapy known as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. The cancer care program at Norton Children’s Hospital, located in the Addison Jo Blair Cancer…
Methotrexate and vincristine are complex words for most, but 7-year-old Beckham Goodale knows them and can pronounce them just as well as any doctor. They’re words no child should know, but this is the reality of pediatric cancer. Methotrexate and vincristine are Beckham’s chemotherapy treatments. He’s been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia since December 2020. In…
The added benefits of exercise for survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can include psychological well-being, improved quality of life and lower risk of long-term effects — like broken bones or chronic diseases — from their treatment. Decreased anxiety and help with social integration are also benefits of exercise for ALL survivors, in addition to…
Children with cancer were more likely to experience severe COVID-19 symptoms than other children, according to a first-of-its-kind worldwide study. One in 5 children with cancer had severe or critical COVID-19, and 1 in 25 died, according to health data gathered in 45 countries. In the general population, severe COVID-19 has been reported in only…
A healthy diet that includes foods — not dietary supplements — rich in antioxidants can help kids undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) reduce the risk of infection and inflammation in the digestive tract, according to a recent study. A diet with foods rich in vitamin A, alpha and beta carotene, and carotenoids resulted…
Leukemia bruising occurs more easily and frequently than typical bruising, may show up in odd places, tends to take longer to clear up and can be part of a number of symptoms seen on a child’s skin, according to a Louisville pediatric hematologist/oncologist. “Bruising from leukemia may occur for unclear reasons, and the bruises could…
Kelsie Cooksey was devastated by the news from Katlyn Claywell, her friend, co-worker and Burkesville, Kentucky, neighbor, that Katlyn’s 19-month-old daughter Kamryn had been diagnosed with leukemia and needed prayers. Kelsie had a boy around the same age and felt her friend’s anguish. Days before, Katlyn had noticed a rash on her little girl with…
Esther E. Knapp, M.D., MBE, of Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologist with specialized training in pediatric bone marrow transplantation. According to Dr. Knapp, taking on challenges was part of the appeal of entering her specialized field. “The truth is, I was impressed by doctors…
Leukemia is the most common cancer that affects children, with 1 in 3 children with cancer experiencing leukemia. Skin changes can be a symptom in early stage leukemia. Here is what parents should know and look for with skin changes in early stage leukemia. Skin symptoms of leukemia in children Bone marrow produces most of…
Signs of leukemia in kids are also symptoms of other common childhood illnesses. Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children –– 1 in 3 children with childhood cancer have leukemia. Many of the early signs of leukemia are similar to those of other common childhood conditions. Here are the signs of leukemia…
“Your child has cancer.” Those are words no parent ever wants to hear. It’s heartbreaking news that takes you on an emotional roller coaster, filled with difficult decisions. Emily and Jason Fox’s son Boone was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in May 2019 at the age of 2. “Boone has Down syndrome, so we…
Heather Kays was a 12-year-old girl newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was a cancer patient at Norton Children’s Hospital. Now, as a 23-year-old healthy woman, she is on the staff as a patient care associate in the hospital’s Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center. As she cares for children undergoing treatment with…