Information on Illnesses 

Did you Know?  Cancer strikes one of every 330 children born in the US.  For more info on childhood cancer, click here.

To learn about treating cancer naturally with herbs, click here.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF):

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. These thick secretions also obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food. For more information about Cystic Fibrosis (CF), click here

EPILEPSY:

People with this disease are prone to recurrent seizures. A seizure is caused by a temporary change in the way the brain cells work.  The brain is like a computer which consists of a vast network of nerve cells called neurons. Throughout our lives literally billions of electrical messages are fired between these cells, controlling every single thing we think, feel or do.  For more information about Epilepsy, click here

EWING'S SARCOMA:

This type of bone cancer is more common in young people than adults. Any bone can be affected but the pelvis, femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) are the most common sites. Like Osteosarcoma it is slightly more common in males than females.  For more information about Ewing's Sarcoma, click here

LEUKEMIA (ALL):

Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a cancer of immature lymphocytes, called lymphoblasts (sometimes referred to as blast cells). Normally, white blood cells repair and reproduce themselves in an orderly and controlled manner but in leukemia the process gets out of control and the cells continue to divide, but do not mature.

These immature cells fill up the bone marrow and prevent it from making blood cells properly. As the leukemia cells do not mature, they cannot do the work of normal white blood cells, leading to an increased risk of infection. And because the bone marrow is overcrowded with immature white cells it cannot make the right numbers and quality of red cells and platelets. As a result, symptoms such as anemia and bruising also occur.

Although Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is more common in children, adults do also get the disease.  For more information about Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), click here

LEUKEMIA (ACUTE MYLOID)  AML:

Leukemia is a disease of the white blood cells. All blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. They arise from stem cells, which are blood cells at their very earliest stage of development. Stem cells can develop into two different types of white cell: lymphocytes and neutrophils.  Neutrophils develop from immature cells of the myeloid line. If these myeloid cells become cancerous the type of leukemia is known as Myeloid Leukemia.   For more information about Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML), click here

NEUROBLASTOMA:

Neuroblastoma is a cancer of nerve cells called neural crest cells. These cells are involved in the development of the nervous system and other tissues such as the adrenal gland. Neuroblastoma most often occurs in the adrenal glands above the kidneys. These are glands that release hormones to maintain blood pressure and enable us to respond to stress. For more information about Neuroblastoma, click here

RETINOBLASTOMA:

Retinoblastoma is a tumor that occurs in the light sensitive lining of the eye known as the retina. It can occur in two forms, an inherited form where there are often tumors in both eyes and a non-inherited form where there is usually only a tumor in one eye.  For more information about Retinoblastoma, click here

RHABDOMYOSARCOMA:

This is the most common of a group of tumors known as soft tissue sarcomas. These develop from muscle or fibrous tissue and can affect many different parts of the body.  The most common areas of the body to be affected are around the head and neck and the bladder. Sometimes the tumors are found in muscles of the limbs and in the chest or abdominal wall. Occasionally if the tumor is in the head or neck region, it can spread into the brain or spinal fluid.  For more information about Rhabdomyosarcoma, click here

SMA  (Spinal Muscular Atrophy):

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease of the anterior horn cells located in the spinal cord. SMA affects the voluntary muscles for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control and swallowing.  The senses/feelings are normal as is intellectual activity. Patients with SMA are unusually bright and sociable.  Usually a child with Type I, (Werdnig-Hoffmann) is never able to lift his/her head or accomplish normal physical milestones. Swallowing and feeding may be difficult.  Children with Type II may sit unsupported although they are usually unable to come to a sitting position without assistance. At some point they may be able to stand with the aid of bracing and/or parapodium/standing frame.    For more information about SMA, click here.

SPINA BIFIDA

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings) caused by the failure of the fetus's spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. Infants born with SB sometimes have an open lesion on their spine where significant damage to the nerves and spinal cord has occurred. Although the spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after birth, the nerve damage is permanent, resulting in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs. Even when there is no lesion present there may be improperly formed or missing vertebrae and accompanying nerve damage. In addition to physical and mobility difficulties, most individuals have some form of learning disability. There is no cure for SB because the nerve tissue cannot be replaced or repaired. For more info about SB visit Spina Bifida Association

WILMS TUMOR:

This type of kidney cancer arises from cells known as nephroblasts, which are involved in the development of the kidneys when the child is in the womb. These cells usually disappear at birth. In children with Wilms' tumor they can still be found. It was named after Dr Max Wilms who first described it, and is also known as Nephroblastoma. 

Send some joy to a sick child!