Nemours Childhood Cancer Awareness & Education Symposium (September 12th-13th 2008)

The Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research hosted its first Childhood Cancer Awareness & Education Symposium on September 12th – 13th at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware. The symposium was one of the outreach programs offered by NCCCR and sponsored by local institutions and industries. Registration was free to the public. The symposium included a series of 15- to 45-minute lectures by professionals including directors, doctors, researchers, practitioners, and social workers prominent in the field of alternative healthcare for cancer. The two-day symposium was attended by about 250 people, including a diverse audience of the general public from every walk of life. The first day of the symposium focused on research and advocacy talks about cancers of mom (breast) and dad (prostate), and the second day focused on cancers of children. The special keynote presentations from Dr. John Condeelis, PhD, (Professor and Co-Chair, Anatomy & Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine) on mechanisms of cancer metastasis and Dr. Tom Curran, PhD, FRS, (Deputy Scientific Director, Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) on the latest advancements in treating children’s brain tumors were scientifically exciting and exposed the audience to promising discoveries that take us one more step closer to conquering this grave disease.

Having a cancer patient in the family is a challenging situation for everyone involved. Cancer awareness and access to resources that provide credible information and support for products and services can bring some comfort. The ability to discuss with the doctor information gathered from a variety of sources enables both sides to make important treatment decisions. Active participation in support groups gives more insight about diagnosis and helps the patient and family cope more effectively. This was certainly the most important aspect of the symposium. By including lectures about current childhood cancer research, clinical trials, and treatment; breast and prostate cancer advocacy; the emotional support of child and parent; and an update on the Delaware Cancer Consortium’s initiative to promote cancer awareness and education campaigns in the state - the symposium indicated Nemours’ collective resolve to do “whatever it takes” for better treatment and to support research towards a cure.