Jamie Russell��s Post

I would like to announce that I am a part of the CURE STARTS NOW Foundation, a non-profit organization to find the cure for the particular DIPG cancer. Unfortunately, there has been barely any research on that kind of cancer. It accounts for 10% of all childhood central nervous system tumors, and approximately 300 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with DIPG yearly. The devastating part is that only 10% of children with DIPG survive for 2 years following their diagnosis, and less than 1% survive for 5 years. The median survival time is 9 months. DIPG is usually diagnosed in children between the ages of five and nine. If you want to make a change in the research world and find a cure or at least make a change in the research of the rare kind of cancer, look at the link below.

Childhood cancer presents unique challenges, differing from adult cancer in its causes, growth patterns, treatment responses, and impact on families. Diagnosis often comes without a known cause, leaving parents grappling with unanswered questions and the emotional toll of treatment's intensity and duration. The toll extends beyond the affected child, disrupting the lives of entire families. The loss of a child to cancer robs an average of 70 potential years of life. Survivors, while fortunate, often bear significant long-term effects from treatment. Common childhood cancers include leukemia, brain cancer, neuroblastoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, and the aggressive DIPG. Globally, around 400,000 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed annually, with over 1,000 cases in Australia alone. Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death among Australian children, claiming about three lives per week. Despite these challenges, advances in medical research have boosted the overall survival rate to over 80% for some cancers such as leukemia. How can you help? Please visit my room children’s cancer charity web page where you see all the work that is being done to find a cure for all childhood cancers, and how my room helps families in need during what would be one of the most difficult times. Please help us by donating to our cause, we need your help big or small as we can’t do it without your support. ***Sources: Cancer Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Childhood Cancer Registry Australia

As a stage 4 blood cancer survivor, I have decided to run for cancer, and I would be honored if you could join me on this journey. Having personally experienced the challenges, pain, and uncertainty that come with battling cancer, I am determined to make a difference in the lives of those currently fighting this disease. Running for cancer not only allows me to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment but also provides an opportunity to support research initiatives aimed at finding a cure. Here are some reasons why I have chosen to embark on this journey: 1. Inspiring Others: By participating in this run as a survivor, I aim to inspire others who are currently fighting cancer or have overcome it. My story serves as a testament that there is hope, strength, and resilience even in the face of such adversity. 2. Raising Awareness: Cancer affects millions of lives worldwide, and raising awareness about its prevention, symptoms, and available treatments is crucial. Through my participation in this run, I hope to educate people about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection. 3. Supporting Research: Medical advancements have significantly improved cancer treatment outcomes over the years. However, there is still much work to be done. By running for cancer, I aim to contribute towards funding research initiatives that can lead us closer to finding a cure for this devastating disease. 4. Celebrating Life: Every step I take during this run will be a celebration of life – not just my own but also those who have lost their battle with cancer or continue their fight every day. It will serve as a reminder that life is precious and should be cherished. Now comes the most important part – your involvement. I would be honored if you could join me in this run, either by participating alongside me or by supporting me through a donation. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a significant impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and I sincerely hope that you will consider joining me in this noble cause. Let's lace up our running shoes and fight cancer together! 😊

March can be a time of hope – not just heralding the beginning of spring but also some important awareness campaigns that empower us to work towards improving outcomes for people affected by cancer. One of these is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, led by hardworking charities like Ovacome - the ovarian cancer support charity. As one of the six less survivable cancers with two thirds of cases diagnosed at an advanced stage, it’s crucial to understand the risk factors and signs. So we’ve joined forces with our friends South East London Integrated Care System to develop a bitesize online module for primary care professionals on referral criteria and pathways for suspected ovarian cancer. We hope this impactful education resource will support staff to detect ovarian cancer earlier and improve survival rates. #OvarianCancerAwarenessMonth #OvarianCancer #CancerEducation #CancerCare #LessSurvivableCancers #CloseTheGap

Sad post warning....keep scrolling if you don't want to be bummed out by reality. Working in patient research and oncology, being more aware of how common cancer is (and how brutal some treatments for it are), has been an eye opener. Now with the King Charles and the Princess of Wales being affected, it just goes to show that cancer is indiscriminate - no matter your budget or status. It's been 6 years since my Dad passed away. I miss him terribly, especially knowing our little girl is missing out on a wonderful grandad. I really want to do my part, however small, to help cancer research advance. It would be wonderful to get to a place where we have treatments that enable people to live longer, ability to detect it earlier, and also better quality of life when being treated and beyond treatment (FYI, some treatments can be brutal to your body and have many, many side effects that people are unprepared for and have to adjust to a new normal for themselves). For my Dad, he lived 6 years extra following his stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis, but I can't honestly say those 6 years were easy or pain free for him. We need to get to a place where we can have treatments which focus as much on quality of life as the survival. I'll be doing the Wales 3 peaks challenge this June to raise funds for cancer research. You might not know my Dad but you will know someone in your life that's been or will be affected by cancer. A donation to cancer research is pretty much an investment into your own future. Donate via the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/erisngcP #cancerresearch

I'm a big believer that we all have a responsibility to give back. If you're looking for a cause to something I want to share 3 things about Pediatric Cancer to help you understand how important this cause is. You can also just skip the reading and just donate https://bit.ly/3wuBosd 😂 1. Every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer: By the time you finish reading this email, another child will have been diagnosed with cancer. 2. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the U.S.: By supporting St. Baldrick's, you're helping to fund research and treatments that save lives. 3. 1 in 6 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. will not survive: With your support, we can work towards improving survival rates and providing hope to those affected by pediatric cancer. Together, we can give these children and their families the hope and support they need.

Childhood Cancer Month 4/30 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a month to focus on our children and bring awareness to childhood cancer. This month I’m sharing facts about childhood cancer, my experience, and raising funds for childhood cancer research 💛 Link to donate: https://lnkd.in/gYZnreWq Childhood cancer is not one disease - there are more than 12 major types of pediatric cancers and over 100 subtypes. Treatment is often individual and even 2 children with the exact same cancer may experience variations in treatment. As most of y’all know I had Leukemia. The subtype I had was Acute Myeloid Leukemia. While my initial treatment was very similar to every other treatment, by the time of diagnosis the cancer had spread into my spinal fluid. This caused to me to need significantly more spinal taps & intrathecal chemotherapy than most AML patients. After relapse, treatment was chosen on a variety of factors. I received FLAG-GO chemotherapy, which took a lot out of me but helped me achieve remission. Even transplant chemo was very individual. I only received 4 days of chemotherapy as opposed to 6/7 which is more standard because of large doses. Some AML patients also receive total body radiation treatment as well, which I was able to avoid. And my complications post transplant caused a variety of treatments to be used. Every child has such a unique journey and we need to fund research for children which takes this into account 💛 Let’s End Childhood Cancer Together 💛🎗️ #GoldTogether

🌟 Celebrating National Cancer Survivor Month 🌟 June is National Cancer Survivor Month, a time to honor the incredible strength and resilience of those who have faced cancer and emerged victorious. This month, we celebrate survivors and acknowledge the challenges they've overcome, the battles they've fought, and the hope they continue to inspire. To all the survivors, your journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit. Your stories of courage, determination, and perseverance are a source of inspiration to us all. Let's take this opportunity to recognize the advancements in medical research, the unwavering support of caregivers, and the communities that rally around those affected by cancer. 🙌 Ways to Show Support: Share Stories: If you or someone you know has a survivor story, share it. Your experiences can provide hope and encouragement to others. Volunteer: Get involved with organizations dedicated to cancer research and support. Donate: Consider contributing to cancer research foundations and charities. Raise Awareness: Use your platform to educate others about early detection and preventive measures. Together, we can continue to support survivors and work towards a future where cancer is no longer a threat. Let’s celebrate the survivors in our lives and remember those who have fought bravely. #NationalCancerSurvivorMonth #CancerSurvivor #Hope #Strength #Resilience #Support #CancerAwareness

I am riding again in the Maca 200 Ride for Cancer to raise money for cancer research conducted by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Another 200kms this October for me. I was never much of a rider. Still am not. But I have learnt to appreciate it in a lot of ways. Can't say it comes naturally or easy to me. Someone close to me asked me why I do this (After seeing some of the stress associated with organising fundraising events). Fair question. Organising events is stressful. training is time consuming. But there are so many reasons I have been raising money for cancer research via the MACA 200 for 5 years and am likely to continue doing for years to come. The obvious reason, is to find better detection and treatment to make cancers non lethal. I have personally seen someone lose their 7 year old grand daughter and my heart breaks every time I think of them and their family. My children are only 3 and 5 and it hits. HARD. I have seen friends go through grueling treatments, followed by fearful periods of isolation and quarantine. I have seen many friends have to battle the mental aspects that go with being diagnosed and coming out the other end. It is not as easy as "I am so lucky" let's get on with our lives and pick up where we left off. I have friends who work in the industry, conducting seeming endless trials. They work SO. HARD. Day. And Night. There are countless friends and people I know who are living with a diagnosis constantly having to navigate the side effects of treatment and calculating and weighing up prognostic risks and projected outcomes. I also do it because I don't want to be a passive bystander. I want to empower myself and those around me to help where they can. What I can do is organise events well. Bring people together. So that's what I do. I organise fundraising events every year. I feel privileged to do it because the amount of people that get around me and my fundraising is humbling, connecting and endlessly generous. Businesses who donate their services and products, people who donate, people who come along and participate in events, raffles, partnerships. The power of our community is incredible. Let's #Forkcancer together.