Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month: What You Need to Know

Birmingham, Ala. (Sept. 2, 2024) — September is Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact cancer and blood disorders have on children and their families.
 

“It’s very difficult those first conversations when a parent comes in, and we have to tell them that their child has cancer,” said Matthew Kutny, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Children’s of Alabama. “But one of the reassuring things is that we can immediately tell them we know exactly what to do. They are at the best place they can possibly be, right here in Alabama at Children’s of Alabama.”
 

The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama treats 90% of children in the state who are diagnosed with cancer. The center is a partnership between Children’s and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). It brings together the care, compassion, and facilities at Children’s hospital and the research that takes place at UAB. The U.S. News and World Report ranks it among the best pediatric cancer programs in the country.
 

This team of more than 300 dedicated healthcare professionals provides care and treatment to more than 2,000 children with all types of cancer and serious blood disorders. Kutny says one of the center’s goals is to improve treatment for patients. They are doing this by participating in multiple clinical trials. 
 

“With our clinical trials, we never throw out the success of our past decades,” said Kutny. “But we always improve upon them, and we work to revise those and improve upon those cure rates to make the treatment safer.”
 

In the past two years, the Clinical Trials Office at Children’s has increased the number of clinical trials available from 75 to more than 100. This means patients receive access to the newest treatment, and they do not have to travel outside of the state of Alabama.
“We focus on finding the best and safest treatments for children so that after they are done with their cancer journey, they can live happy and healthy lives, and we are committed to that mission here at Children’s of Alabama and UAB,” said Kutny.
 

Children’s will shine a light to raise awareness about childhood cancer. Beginning at dusk on September 1, the hospital will be lit in gold for the month. 
 

There are several ways you can support the work being done at the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders:
•    The Curing Childhood Cancer Specialty Car Tag helps fund patient care, education, research, and specialized physician training. You can purchase the tag at your local DMV during your car tag renewal month. The fee is $50, with $41.25 donated to Children’s.
•    For every Cure Gold Blondie Cookie purchased at Cookie Fix from September 9-15, Cookie Fix will donate a portion of sales to Children’s of Alabama. The cookies will be available at the locations in Homewood, Cahaba Heights, Greystone/Highway 280 and Clift Farms.
•    Buy Alabama’s Best is a campaign to identify and raise awareness of Alabama food products, increase sales of those products, and raise money for the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. Participating retailers will ask customers to support Children’s by purchasing a yellow ribbon.