Childhood Cancer Canada

Do you have a question? Chances are we've heard it before. We've listed below the answers to the questions we're asked most often. If you have a question and you can't find the answer on this website, please contact us and we'll make every effort to help you.

Our child has just been diagnosed with a form of cancer. What questions might be useful for us to ask our doctor/healthcare team?

• What type of cancer does my child have?
• What is the stage of the disease?
• What does this stage mean?
• What are the treatment choices at this point?
• What treatment(s) do you recommend and why?
• How long will the treatment last?
• What are the chances that this treatment will be successful?
• How will we know if treatment is successful?
• What are the both the short-term and long-term risks of the treatment?
• What side effects will our child experience as treatment is taking place?
• Are any longer term side effects anticipated from this treatment?
• What role should or could we play in our child's treatment?
• Since we need to be with our child during treatment, can the hospital/treatment centre help us find accommodation? (as appropriate and required)
• How can we help our child prepare for this treatment?
• What's the very best way we could support our child through the treatment?

Bring a pad and paper with you during the meeting. Take notes. It is often a good idea to take a small recorder with you and ask if you can record the meeting, that way you can review everything that was discussed later.

Is Childhood Cancer Canada a United Way Agency?

Childhood Cancer Canada is not a United Way Agency and does not receive support from monies donated to the United Way - unless individual donors choose to designate their UW donation to Childhood Cancer Canada.

Our core funding comes from individual donations from thousands of generous Canadians, and from our corporate partners and supporting foundations throughout Canada.

Does Childhood Cancer Canada receive any government funding?

The Foundation does not receive funding from any level of government. See the response above.

What is the relationship between Childhood Cancer Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society?

Childhood Cancer Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society are different and separate registered charities in Canada. The Society provides a range of programs in support of the fight against all cancers. Childhood Cancer Canada is the country’s leading foundation dedicated to funding national research while delivering critical education, community and connectivity programs to children with cancer and their families. Our partnership with C17, the Council of Pediatric Hematologists/Oncologists, ensures that the national research we fund improves health outcomes and quality of life for children and adolescents.

How are childhood cancers different from adult cancers?

Adults are most affected by breast, lung, prostate, bowel and bladder cancers. Children are most affected by acute leukemias, tumours of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles.

The causes of adult cancers are often related to lifestyle factors such as exposure to the environment, diet, alcohol intake and smoking. The causes of children's cancers are in most cases unknown.

While many of the same interventions such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are used to treat children's cancers, children are more apt to suffer significant after effects such as cognitive dysfunction, cataracts and organ failure as a result of the harsh impact of the treatment on their young and developing bodies.

One significant difference between childhood and adult cancers is that children have an overall cure rate in the area of 80%, while the cure rate for adult cancers hovers in the 50% range.

Does Childhood Cancer Canada provide any financial assistance to patients and their families?

The Foundation raises funds to support its nationwide support programs as well as to support multi-centre Pan-Canadian research. We feel we can help more Canadian children and their families by investing in these kinds of programs and research, rather than in providing direct financial assistance to those experiencing cancer. This being said, the Foundation's Survivor Scholarship as well as Benevolent Fund programs do provide direct financial support to families under specific circumstances and conditions: see ‘Get Help’.  If you need financial assistance or other personal support to help you or your family, your provincial ministry of health, along with service clubs, social services, hospital and their foundations, and others can help you.

How can I donate and/or help the Foundation raise funds to help in the fight against childhood cancer?

There are many ways you can help raise money to help in the fight to beat childhood cancer: donate on-line or call us at 1-800-363-1062 to become a one-time or monthly donor, to donate in honour or in memory of someone, or to participate in a fundraising event. If you want to stage an event with the proceeds going to the Foundation, call us at the toll-free number or see ‘Hold Your Own Fundraising Event’.

Does Childhood Cancer Canada award research grants or fellowships for cancer researchers?

Childhood Cancer Canada does not directly grant funds to researchers in Canada. The Foundation funds childhood cancer research in all its forms through the C17 Research Network of the C17 Council. The Network has its own research granting committee and reviews proposals regularly. For information about the grant application and funding process please see Research Grant Applications.