As I was watching the national news this week, there was a
story that focused on a child with lymphoma who is part of a new, targeted
anti-cancer therapy research study being done at Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia. After a relapse following
traditional chemotherapy, Zach Witt (age 10) became one of 77 children who had
aggressive and uncommon types of lymphoma and neuroblastoma for which there
were no other treatment options and no cure.
The children in this study received a drug that had only been used to
treat adult lung cancer patients. For
Zach, there was noticeable improvement just days after starting the
medication. Zach responded well to the
medication and has been able to return to the normal life of a 10-year-old
boy. To date, results are promising for
those children with lymphoma although the long-term outcomes remain
unknown. Zach’s parents discuss their
feelings of helplessness and their fears about the experimental treatment. This story highlights the positive impact that research can have on children and their families even in the face of uncertainty about the outcomes and possible risks.
I have included 2 links- one to the interview with Zach’s parents on
MSNBC and one to information about the research study.
MSNBC Nightly News (2012, May 16). He’s
living a full, happy life. [video] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/47451891#47451891
English, T. (2012, March 17). Study on
targeted medicines shows different front of cancer battle. Retrieved from Newsworks website:
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/38610-study-on-targeted-cancer-medicines
Thanks for sharing your story about Zach. Anyone who faces a life threatnening illness or desease touches my heart. As for now Zach's story has a happy ending buththere are so many children who stories we never hear about. I am emotional and like many this touched my heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Zach's story. Many of us say that we would not give consent for our children to undergo experimental treatments, but I think in extreme situations, the benefits almost always outweigh the risks. In cases such as these the risk is that the treatment will kill the child, but if the child will die anyway, how can you not try.
ReplyDeleteI hope I am never in the situation to make that decision.
Thanks for sharing, this is a wonderful example of the positive influences that are presented by research. Although in Zach's care this research proved to be benefical I am sure that the risk were taken into consideration as well. Great job.
ReplyDelete