Families & Children in Treatment

Parent & Family Resources

American Childhood Cancer Organization (formerly Candlelighters): The national office provides parent-to-parent support and information. Major state chapters run support groups and offer additional services.
Association of Cancer Online Resources: Many email lists relevant to childhood cancer are hosted here. It also includes publications and information on clinical trials and treatment options.
Beyond the Cure: This site provides information about the late effects of a childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment.
CancerCare: A national nonprofit organization that provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved. CancerCare programs - including counseling, education, financial assistance, and practical help - are provided by trained oncology social workers and are completely free of charge.
The Cancer Project - Nutrition for Kids: Focused on lifelong cancer prevention for kids, this dietary education booklet has information, recipes, and tips for children of every age group.
Cancer Support Community: Formerly Gilda's Club and now working in partnership with The Wellness Community, the Cancer Support Community provides meeting places where men, women, and children living with cancer and their families and friends join with others to build emotional and social support as a supplement to medical care. Free of charge and not-for-profit, Gilda's Club offers support and networking groups, lectures, workshops, and social events in a non-residential, homelike setting. 24/7 online support is also available.
Childhood Cancer Ombudsman Program: This program provides complaint investigation and resolution for families of children with cancer and adult survivors of childhood cancer. Inquiries should be directed to the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation.
Children's Brain Tumor Foundation: This nonprofit organization has a mission of improving the treatment, qualify of life, and long-term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors through research, support, education, and advocacy to families and survivors.
Children's Cancer Web: This is a comprehensive guide to internet resources for cancer, especially childhood cancer.
Children's Oncology Group's Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines (CureSearch): These guidelines provide recommendations for screening and management of late effects that may potentially arise as a result of having had cancer and/or its treatment. This resource was initially intended for medical professionals and contains medical and scientific terms that may not be familiar to lay persons. The COG strongly recommends discussing this information with your doctors.
Hope Street Kids: Hope Street Kids is a children's initiative of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. This program was founded by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and Randy Walker, in memory of their nine-year-old daughter, Caroline Pryce Walker, who lost a valiant battle against neuroblastoma on September 4, 1999. At the core of the Hope Street Kids' mission is our research grant and fellowship awards program.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: LLS is dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. The organization's site provides practical information for patients and families including a publication on educational transitions -- recommended for parents of school-age children in treatment. (Image: LLS exhibiting table at CCCA's RTA-Houston conference)
The Lion in the House: A documentary film following the stories of five children and their families as they battle pediatric cancer.
National Children's Cancer Society: This group provides financial assistance throughout the U.S. for children with cancer aged 18 and under.
National Patient Advocate Foundation: NPAF provides a national managed care resource network that provides free case advocacy on medical insurance issues for cancer patients.
Rare Cancer Alliance - Pediatric Cancer Resource Center: This website has been designed to offer information and immediate support to pediatric cancer patients and their loved ones.
SuperSibs!: An organization that aims to reach out to the brothers and sisters of over 12,600 children in the U.S. and Canada who are diagnosed with cancer each year. Siblings eligible for the free support provided by the organization are those between the ages of 4 and 18 with a sibling who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Tracy's Kids: Tracy's Kids is a project of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer prevention. The Tracy's Kids program cannot prevent cancer, but our goal is to ensure that each child is emotionally equipped to fight the disease as actively as possible and prepare for the time that he or she is cancer-free.

Survivor Camps

Children's Oncology Camping Association International: This group coordinates information about camps for children with cancer.
Camp Sunshine (Casco, Maine): Camp Sunshine is a year-round retreat that provides respite and support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. 24-hour medical and psychosocial support is included. Free of charge to all families.
Camp Sunshine (Atlanta, Georgia): Camp Sunshine provides year-round educational and support programs and camps for children with cancer and their families in Georgia.

Hospice Care and Bereavement Resources

Children's Hospice International: An organization serving as an educational resource on hospice care for all children in need.
Compassionate Friends: Local self-help groups of bereaved parents and siblings offer mutual support. Groups are free and open to all.
Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund: This site is dedicated to the non-medical uninsured needs of families caring for terminally, critically, and chronically ill dependent children. They offer direct financial assistance and also an educational video on financial management.
National Association of Hospitality Houses: Places families stay when children are treated away from home.

Research & Clinical Trials

CureSearch - Children's Oncology Group and National Childhood Cancer Foundation: NCCF channels funding from the National Cancer Institute to the Children's Oncology Group for laboratory and clinical research for the treatment and cure of childhood cancer. As a national organization, they promote care for children and families throughout affiliated research centers.
New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT): NANT is sponsored by NCI and develops and tests new therapies for children with neuroblastoma.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC): The PBTC is an NCI-sponsored network of ten institutions that evaluate new treatments for children with brain tumors.