OFM_Dept_Impact_Child_Cancer_0919_REV_DEPT 8 / 22 / 19 4 : 00 PM Page 1 Doctors at area hospitals are working to improve CT the quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer , PA while continuing research into finding cures for all . IM Leading THE By Brittany Ann Morrisey attacks cells , ” Dr . Ramamoorthy ith more children beating cancer , Nagasubramanian , division chief doctors and researchers are focused MEDICINE HAS for hematology / oncology at more than ever on working to ease the W Nemours Children’s Hospital , says . long - term side effects of radiation and chemo - COME FAR IN THE “ It can attack normal cells and cancer cells therapy , an initiative that includes providing less the exact same way . ” toxic treatments and creating new programs that FIGHT AGAINST This is why doctors like Nagasubramanian say give patients options for the future . treatments like immunotherapy , which uses the That said , there are still children who never get PEDIATRIC CANCER . body’s own immune system to fight the cancer , are so to grow up because of cancer . In fact , the ACS exciting . Because not only do they promise success in estimates that 1,190 children who are 15 years old curing more cancers but they , so far , seem to be less or younger will die from cancer this year . Here in toxic than chemotherapy and radiation , leading to Orlando , local hospitals and organizations are Fifty years ago , fewer side effects for patients . determined to make that number zero by contin - “ These new treatments are what I call smart uing to push for more research funding , access to less than 60 % of bombs , ” he says . “ It specifically targets something vital clinical trials and innovative treatments . abnormal or unique to the tumor cell . ” children diagnosed Dr . Fouad Hajjar , medical director of pediatric Less Toxic Treatments hematology and oncology at AdventHealth for Chil - Because so many children do survive cancer today , Dr . with cancer would dren , says it’s still too early to say whether these new Amy Smith , a pediatric neuro - oncologist at Arnold go on to survive five targeted therapies will ultimately lead to fewer long - Palmer Hospital for Children , says quality of life is a term complications for patients but so far the results big focus in developing new treatments for cancer . years or longer , are promising . “ Our kids have a lot of long - term side effects they “ We’re not completely out of the woods , ” he have to live with , ” she says . according to the says , “ but at least the toxicity profile is better than the Some of those side effects include infertility , hor - traditional chemotherapy from what I’m seeing . ” mone deficiencies , hearing loss , cognitive impair - American Cancer Apart from using less toxic treatments , local ments , vision problems , decreased lung volume , hospitals are also developing initiatives to give chil - slowed growth of muscles and bones , and delayed Society ( ACS ) . dren with cancer more options in adulthood . One tooth development . Some of these issues show up such initiative is AdventHealth’s new fertility pro - right away , while others only become evident for the gram for children diagnosed with cancer that will patient later on in life . TODAY THAT allow young patients the opportunity to preserve The protocol for treating most cancers is a mix NUMBER IS ABOUT their eggs or sperm before starting chemotherapy . of chemotherapy , radiation and sometimes surgery . “ If you can have the ability to preserve fertility But , unfortunately , chemotherapy and radiation do before they start treatment , then hopefully that allows not just harm the cancer tumor , but also the body’s them the opportunity in their life to have their own normal , noncancerous cells . 80 % . children , ” Smith says . “ Chemotherapy is basically blind to how it 38 ORLANDO FAMILY september 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM