Many a great musician have talked about the healing powers of music. For example, Prince described music as “healing.” He said that “Music holds things together.” And Elton John said, “Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” As can be seen by these comments, there’s no question, there are healing powers of music!
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The moment the doctor utters the words, “Your child has cancer” your world is turned upside down. And what follows after the initial shock is stress. It can be extremely stressful for both you and your child as you try to comprehend the disease, the medical jargon and what lies ahead. But, it’s important to recognize that this stress is a normal reaction to the situation. As a matter of fact, there are ways to help manage childhood cancer stress.
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Medical tests can be scary, no matter how old you are. And for kids with cancer, it’s really hard because tests and procedures are a large part of their cancer journey. But by properly preparing your child for medical tests you can help lower their anxiety and provide them with valuable coping skills.
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Selecting an appropriate gift for a child with cancer can be tricky. It’s hard to know what they’d like or even be able to use when they’re not feeling well. And you certainly don’t want to buy something that is inappropriate or would make their situation worse. But don’t let this stop you from giving a gift for a child with cancer. You just need to do a little homework before choosing a gift.
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While children with cancer during coronavirus face challenges such as increased social isolation, there is some good news. According to a study led by Andrew Kung, MD, PhD, Chair of MSK Kids and his colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer, children and teens with cancer are not at higher risk of being affected by COVID-19 than children without cancer. The research also shows that children with cancer who have COVID-19 often have mild symptoms like those of healthy children.
read more →By Les Friedman, CEO and Mikey’s dad
“Your child has cancer.” These words are probably the most frightening words a parent will ever hear. And amidst our own fears, is the equally daunting thought of talking with your child about cancer.
It’s only natural to want to protect our children from the cancer and the fear that comes along with it. For this reason, it may be tempting to consider holding off talking with your child about cancer or even not telling him at all. But not telling the truth will only lead to problems later.
Kids usually know when something is wrong. They may not be feeling well or may wonder why they have so many medical visits. In fact, some children will create their own idea as to what they think is wrong. Not knowing what is wrong or what to expect may cause your child even more anxiety, stress, and fear. For this reason, being honest tends to lessen a child’s stress, guilt, and confusion.
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The spread of the Novel Coronavirus has placed social distancing in the forefront of global attention. For most people, this is probably their first experience practicing social distancing to avoid infection. But for cancer patients, it’s well, just another Monday. The concept of social distancing is all too familiar for cancer patients, whose immune systems may be compromised because of their disease or treatment.
Wearing a mask, donning gloves, avoiding crowds and frequent hand washing aren’t anything new. While this behavior is the new normal for everyone during COVID-19, it’s the “always normal” for cancer patients.
That’s why when it comes to coping with isolation, cancer patients are a step ahead of everyone else. Because they’ve been practicing social distancing and staying connected, while apart, for years.
read more →By Les Friedman, Mikey’s dad
When the doctor speaks with you about your child’s diagnosis, you might hear what he’s saying, but hearing isn’t the same as understanding. This happens not only because it’s difficult to process information after receiving overwhelming news, but also because childhood cancer has its own complex vocabulary of medical terms and acronyms. Lots of new information coupled with a lot of emotion makes it difficult to process what you were just told. As a result, you may find yourself wondering, “What did the doctor just say?”
read more →By Les Friedman
CEO and Mikey’s dad
When your child is about to begin chemotherapy, you may already know the possible side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue. But are you prepared for the mood swings and emotional changes that your child may experience during his treatment? Just like chemotherapy side effects that you can physically see, such as hair loss, mental health issues are also a very real and common effect for kids coping with cancer.
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CT scan vs MRI scan – both are diagnostic medical tests that, like traditional X-rays, produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of your child’s body. Radiologists use the images generated from these scans to detect, diagnosis, or monitor your child’s health during and after treatment. So, what’s the differences between a CT (computerized tomography) scan and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)?
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