Children’s Cancer Research Fund has introduced a new grant, the Healthy After Cancer: Childhood Cancer Survivorship Research Award, which funds critical research that will lessen the impact of treatment and late-effects on childhood cancer survivors and ensures they have the information and care needed to live long, healthy lives after cancer.
2021 Survivorship Award Grantees
Why is survivorship research important?
For many childhood cancer survivors, the cancer experience doesn’t end when treatment is over.
There are an estimated 420,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States today. More and more children are surviving each year, and because of the nature of their treatments, childhood cancer survivors are more susceptible to a range of health complications throughout their lives.
Childhood Cancer Survivorship Facts:
Today’s childhood cancer treatments leave late effects that can last a lifetime. Late effects include:
- Mental health issues and memory loss
- Hearing loss
- Cavities and other dental problems
- Heart and other organ damage
- Infertility
- Nerve damage, pain and weakness
- Stunted bone growth
- Increased risk of secondary cancers
More than 95% of survivors will have a significant health issue related to their cancer or treatment by the time they are 45 years old.
Only one in five survivors of childhood cancer receive the customized care and guidance they need.
Many long-term survivors who are now adults cannot fully or accurately describe their previous cancer treatments or long-term health risks, because their parents or guardians were the ones keeping track of their health records and making treatment decisions.
Our Focus on Survivorship
CCRF created the Survivorship Award to recognize that the childhood cancer experience is never truly over, and support shouldn’t end when treatment does. More effective treatments mean that more children are surviving cancer than ever before, and the need for better understanding of the struggles these survivors face is urgent and growing. The Survivorship Award will support research projects that shine a light on the specific needs of childhood cancer survivors and innovate to meet these needs.
Support Groundbreaking Research
Your support propels bold ideas forward and empowers researchers to discover treatments that are better and safer for kids, and ensure every child can have a long, healthy life after cancer.
