Help Cancer Patients Access Medications!

Cancer in children is a devastating diagnosis, and the treatments required are often complex and prolonged. Medications play a central role in fighting the disease, managing symptoms, and improving the quality of life for these young patients.  Many types of medications are necessary in managing cancer care:

Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapies: These medications are designed to directly attack cancer cells, stopping them from growing and spreading. They are essential for many types of childhood cancer and are often used in combination with other treatments like surgery and radiation.

Pain Management: Cancer and its treatments can cause significant pain. Pain medications help children cope with this discomfort, allowing them to rest, eat, and participate in daily activities as much as possible. Providing adequate pain relief is a fundamental aspect of compassionate care.

Anti-Nausea and Anti-Emetic Drugs: Chemotherapy can cause severe nausea and vomiting. Anti-nausea and anti-emetic medications help manage these side effects, preventing dehydration and improving the child's ability to tolerate treatment.

Antibiotics and Anti-Fungals: Children undergoing cancer treatment have weakened immune systems, making them highly susceptible to infections. Antibiotics and anti-fungal medications are vital for preventing and treating these infections, which can be life-threatening.

Supportive Medications: In addition to cancer-fighting drugs, children may need medications to manage other complications, such as anemia, low blood counts, and nutritional deficiencies. These supportive medications are crucial for maintaining their overall health and well-being.

We receive many requests for help from patients in need of bone marrow transplants.  These treatments invvolve all types of medications listed above.  Often, hospitals in the former Soviet Union countries face shortages of medications, or lack of access to better and safer therapies. 

Parents of Maksat, a 3-year-old from Kazakhstan, were told that they would have to wait a month for a call from the hospital to admit him for evailuation when he suddenly got sick last year.  After they went to a private clinic, Maksat's tests came back inconclusive.  Meanwhile, his condition continued to deteriorate.  Eventually, his tissue was sent to South Korea for genetic testing, since local labs weren't properly equipped.  The testing resulted in Maksat being diagnosed with Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia, and one of the most challenging types to treat. It affects 1 to 2 children out of every 1 million each year.  Maksat's parents found a hospital abroad that specializes in this type of leukemia.  Since Maksat will need bone marrow transplantation, the hospital also located an unrelated bone marrow donor.  The treatment ahead of Maksat will be long and difficult, but he will finally have a chance to beat cancer. 

Without reliable access to medications, children with cancer face immense challenges and their chances of survival diminish. Your donations help us ensure that these children receive the necessary drugs to fight their illness, manage pain, and live as comfortably as possible. Thanks to your support, we will be able to help Maksat's family with the treatment costs and get them a step closer on their journey.   Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to helping children with cancer!