Questions to Consider
When Your Child is Diagnosed

hen Alexander was diagnosed with a brain tumor we asked his doctors why he got cancer.

Alexander was born very healthy at 6 lbs., 11 oz and a length of 19 ¾ inches. His five-minute Apgar score was nine. He was breast-fed for four months. Later his formula was made from bottled water. His solid food was homemade. He lived in a clean beachside community. His parents were not exposed to pollutants any more than any other family. Alexander was a strong healthy boy. At age two he was almost 30 pounds and very tall. In fact, for his age he was in the top 90th percentile for weight and height.

Why would he get cancer?

The oncologists said that they had absolutely no idea.

After speaking to many parents with children with cancer we have noted how the same health issues come up again and again. These are signs and symptoms that occurred before the child was diagnosed. Oncologists are not interested in these signs. They are interested in administering chemotherapy. However, there are other researchers (PhDs and MDs) who are interested.

If you are a parent with a child with brain cancer, some of the questions below may "ring a few bells." If you want to pass this information back to us we will funnel it to the appropriate researcher.


PRIOR TO DIAGNOSIS:

• Has your child ever had any skin problems or rashes such as eczema?
• Has your child ever had spasms or seizures?
• How many vaccines did your child receive prior to diagnosis? What were these vaccines? Did he or she have any reactions?
• Is there anyone in the child's family with any of the following diseases:
  Asthma, allergies, herpes, eczema, urticaria, diabetes, Crohns disease, warts, arthritis, thyroid disease, MS, other "auto-immune" diseases?

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© Raphaele and Michael Horwin, 1999 - 2002