Cheryl Rosen, the Chairman of the Board for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, talks about the organization. Mark Vergari/lohud
Cheryl Rosen, the Chairman of the Board for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, is pictured at her home in Scarsdale with her 7-year-old Boxer, Shayna, April 20, 2017. The dog is also a therapy dog. (Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)Buy Photo
It is one of the worst pronouncements a person can hear from a doctor that youve got cancer now imagine that diagnosis is for a child.
No one believes its going to happen to them and all of a sudden your world turns upside down, says Cheryl Rosen. Thrown into a world of phrases and drugs and a journey into hell and you come out on the other side.
Rosen is the Chairman of The Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF). The group has been part of the fight to find a cure for the last 45 years, helping local Westchester families and raising funds for needed research.
Started in 1970, the Mamaroneck-based advocacy group of volunteers also offersemotional help forfamilies and individuals. Throughfundraising, PCFsupports six hospitals with cancer programs inNew York and Chicagoby purchasingequipment forresearch and testing for life-saving procedures in pediatric cancer treatment.
We take pride in the long standing relationships with these hospitals, says Rosen. They are at the forefront of research and clinical trials leading to important research.
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According to the American Cancer Society, pediatric cancers are different than what normally develops in adults.They includeAcute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL),Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL),Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).Brain tumors and unique solid tumors such as Neuroblastoma, Wilms Tumor and sarcomas are alsocommon.
"PCF has been instrumental in providing critical grant support over the past quarter of a century to help raise the cure rate in pediatric cancer from approximately 50-60 percent to 85-90 percent today," says Dr. Mitchell S. Cairo, ChiefofPediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantationat Maria Fareri.
The group has raised more than $500,000 towards research for hospitals that include Maria Fareri, New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Childrens Hospital, Stephen D. Hassenfeld Childrens Center for Cancer at NYU Langone Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Feinstein Institute of Medical Research Northwell Health and University of Chicago Medicine Comer Childrens Hospital.
Dr. Cairo describes PCF as instrumental in providing millions of dollars in critical grant support to raise the cure rate.
"Major accomplishments over the past 40 years have occurred in pediatric(cancers)," says Cairo. ALL, NHL, HL, Wilms Tumor amongothers." He cites emotional support for family members as another important factorin theprocess.
"Parental support is a key component in the management and care of a child with cancer. Emotional, psychological, economic and social support from parents are critical components to the success of a child newly diagnosed with cancer."
For families like Dana and Carmine Gentile, thereality of cancer can be earth-shattering.
Carmine Gentileremembers the first signs something was wrong with her then 6-year-old daughter, Gia, before the Hawthorne family received an eventualdiagnosis of stage four pediatric cancer.
She had a low grade fever, and low back pain;shes a cheerleader and thought she had gotten hurt, says Carmine Gentile.
After a chest x-ray and blood work resulted in an early diagnosis of muscular pain, Gia's continued and excruciating pain led toan ultrasound that revealed the problem.
On Oct. 28 they did testing and diagnosed her with stage four neuroblastoma cancer,says Gentile.
"The first couple months were the toughest for us," he says. Gentile describes his daughter as a trooper throughout her ordeal. Gia was treated at the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.
Today, Gia is doing well, says her father. "She is great she has good days and bad days,on the good days she's playful and energetic," he says.
PCF helped the entire Gentilefamily which includesGordana, 5 years old andSantino, who is 4 years old.
"They visited with us during the holidaysand bought small gifts for the children," says Gentile. "Speaking to people that understand whatyoure going through on a daily basis .... they put things in perspective."
Gia Gentile with family and PCF President Bonnie Shyer at 23rd Annual Walkathon in New York City(Photo: Courtesy of Dana and Carmine Gentile)
Giving supportto families through the uncertainty of illness is why organizations like PCF exist, says CheylRosen.
Our mission is to eradicate pediatric cancer by providing funding for much needed research in the field, supply much needed medical equipment and provide patient and parents care, she says.
Rosen became involved after her son Daniel gotsick.
He went through eight cycles of high doses of chemotherapyand 30 days of radiation.
I became involved after my son Daniel, at the age of 14, contracted stage four Hodgkins cancer, she says. The treatment is all-consuming and the protocols ...He was diagnosed in April 2004 and completed treatment in November."
Cheryl Rosen, the Chairman of the Board for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, is pictured at her home in Scarsdale, April 20, 2017. (Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)
Daniel has been cancer-free since 2004.
We were as a family looking for a way to give back, she says.
Rosenjoined PCF as a volunteer, became president and now serves as the Chairman of the Board. Because they were there for us when Daniel was sick, we wanted to give back in gratitude.
They help with family phone callsand clarification on procedures and medicine associated with cancer procedures. With her firsthand knowledge of cancer, she helps families struggling with the diagnosis.
One of the biggest roles Ive taken is being the face of the organization and reaching out to parents, offering insights."
Rosen says PCF has raised roughly $15 million throughout the years. Theorganization includesthreepart time staff members, 28 board members and 60 volunteers for fundraising events.They hold four major fundraisers through the year.
Rosen with her therapy dog Shayna says there's still more work to be done.
The worst thing in the world is to go in a hospital ward and see the children suffering."
Twitter:@krhudsonvalley
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