Childhood Cancer Survivor Advocates for Research and Less Toxic Treatments
Diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma at 16, Braulio Hernandez is five years cancer-free and speaking out about the need for increased funding for childhood cancer research.
In a matter of moments, Braulio Hernandez went from navigating the pursuits of an ambitious teenager to facing the greatest challenge of his young life.
At 16, he was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma. Only 7,500 cases of this extremely rare blood cancer are diagnosed each year in this country, but it is the most common cancer among adolescents ages 15 to 19.
“Exceptional Treatment and Research”
It all started innocently enough. Hernandez’s mother noticed a lump on his jaw and took him to the doctor to have it checked. The pediatrician initially thought it was swollen glands and prescribed antibiotics, but it did not go away. Further testing, including diagnostic scans and a biopsy, revealed the cancer diagnosis.
Hernandez and his family sought a second opinion at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, and South Florida’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
From day one, Hernandez says his family had complete confidence the Sylvester care team would expertly and compassionately guide them through this difficult journey. He underwent four taxing cycles of chemotherapy, which required inpatient hospital stays.
“One of the reasons we knew we had chosen the right place was Sylvester’s reputation as a leading cancer center renowned for its exceptional treatment and research,” said Hernandez, who is currently studying film and television production at the University of Southern California. “A lot of my treatment was based on the most cutting-edge research available at that time. This is invaluable when it comes to a childhood cancer diagnosis.”
The Need for Research Funding
In August, Hernandez celebrated five years since he completed treatment and was declared cancer-free, a major milestone for cancer survivors. He feels fortunate there was an effective treatment protocol in place for Hodgkin lymphoma. That’s not always the case for many children with cancer.
Though the number one cause of non-accidental death in children, childhood cancer is considered a rare disorder. It is grossly under-researched. The federal government allocates only 4% of its cancer research budget to pediatric cancers. But that has not deterred Sylvester’s world-renowned physician-scientists from facing childhood cancer head-on.
“In addition to the contributions to the basic understanding of cancer biology, research from the Barredo lab has generated three investigator-initiated studies for childhood and adolescent and young-adult cancers testing new treatment strategies,” said Julio Barredo, M.D., director of children’s cancer programs and the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Sylvester, as well as vice chair for clinical and translational research and the Toppel Family Endowed Chair at the Miller School. “Our group has made seminal discoveries in childhood leukemia, sarcoma and now in central nervous system tumors.”
The Search for Less Toxic Cancer Treatments
One of the biggest challenges to treating childhood cancer is that current cancer therapies are often too toxic for young bodies. Only 5% of oncology treatments have been tested for first-time use in children. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of childhood cancer survivors experience health issues later in life because of the toxicity of their treatment or the disease. This is one of the reasons Hernandez is advocating for childhood cancer research.
“Children are not just small adults,” said Hernandez. “We must develop new drug treatments tailored specifically for pediatric and adolescent patients who are still developing physically and intellectually. Kids deserve effective, personalized treatments that kill cancer cells while leaving the rest of their growing bodies healthy.”
Discovering targeted and less toxic treatments is a priority for Dr. Barredo and his Sylvester colleagues. Patient success stories like that of Hernandez fuel their determination.
“As pediatric oncologists, the best reward is to see our patients survive cancer and go on to live happy and productive lives as they achieve their lifelong personal goals,” said Dr. Barredo.
Get Involved
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness and the perfect time to support Sylvester research.
Tags: cancer research, Dr. Julio C. Barredo, Hodgkin lymphoma, pediatric cancer, philanthropy, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center