Better chances for childhood cancer in Brazil

Otavio was still a baby when a small lump appeared on his forehead. Something common among children, this swelling could be the result of a typical injury of someone learning to walk, or even an insect bite. This is why Otavio’s mother at first treated it with an ice pack.

But after two days, as the lump was still there, she looked for a pediatrician in the city where she lives, in the interior of the State of São Paulo. “The doctor first asked us for X-Ray, then an ultrasound, a CT scan and an MRI scan. He did not have much experience with cancer in children, because it is rare, but considered this possibility. I was then referred to an oncologist, who recommended GRAACC hospital for the specialized treatment,” recalls Joseane, the boy’s mother.

It was all very fast. The appointment with the oncologist was on a Friday afternoon and on Monday morning the family arrived at GRAACC hospital, where Otavio was seen by doctors and a multiprofessional team with experience in the type of tumor that had been diagnosed: a stage 4 neuroblastoma The lump on his forehead was actually a sign of a metastasis of the disease.

“Unlike what many people imagine, a metastatic cancer can be cured and does not mean a new cancer, but rather the proliferation of a primary tumor, which happens when cancer cells spread to other healthy tissues. This requires specialized treatment and, the sooner the diagnosis is made, the greater the possibilities of cure,” explains Dr. Eliana Caran, a pediatric oncologist specialized in the treatment of neuroblastoma at GRAACC hospital.

The treatment lasted more than one year. Otavio had chemotherapy, underwent an autologous bone marrow transplant, had radiotherapy sessions, everything inside GRAACC Hospital.

Today, at the age of seven, smiling and full of energy, Otavio is cured and only returns to GRAACC Hospital for exams and medical visits that ensure everything remains fine.

And this is why GRAACC exists: to provide a whole future for children like Otavio.

Be a donor and help us continue to offer all chances of cure to thousands of children and adolescents with cancer.

Miguel is a 3 year old brazilian boy and he has lived in Japan since he was one year old. The joys of his routine in the land of the rising sun include visiting zoo and aquarium, playing on playground, and running whenever possible. Differently from other children his age, he has overcome one of the most difficult stages of his life: he defeated a cancer. His mother is Larissa and his father is Bruno, a goal scorer in the Japanese club Cerezo Osaka. The family had other plans for 2020. Miguel was preparing to be an older brother. But the pandemic postponed the family's dream of expanding and the fear of the new Coronavirus forced them to achieve a cure for Miguel's illness. When the boy felt his abdominal swelling and the Japanese pediatrician said in Portuguese that he had cancer, Larissa and Bruno didn't want to understand it. An interpreter supports them, so they knew that blood tests confirmed cancer and the other specialists guided them to start treatment immediately. Even distressed by the diagnosis, they had to decide between staying in Japan and dealing difficulties of language or facing the limitations imposed by the pandemic to travel to Brazil, where they could be with their family. “A doctor we trust told us who told us that, given the situation, the pandemic wasn’t the priority. The best thing to do would be to return to Brazil and to take Miguel to GRAACC Hospital. We wanted our son to heal and we trusted that it would be the best decision” Larissa said.

One week after the medical appointment, Miguel was at the GRAACC Hospital, redoing the exams to confirm the diagnosis and starting treatment with chemotherapy and surgery. His family rented an apartment in São Paulo, where his grandparents also stayed to support the child's treatment. It took four months, and in three of them, the boy was unable to walk and had to use a tube, because he couldn’t eat.

“Oncologists, surgeons, nursing staff, residents, nutritionists, physiotherapists, physiotherapists, each one of them was an angel, being lovely, emotional, kind and as human as possible. Everything we wanted, we found the best of it in GRAACC, which has our deep gratitude. The days were difficult in the hospital, but thanks to them, we celebrate each month our son’s healing and we hope it will last forever”, Larissa tolded.

Miguel was discharged from treatment and now he is back on the stadium bleachers in Japan, cheering for his dad. His exams are done on the other side of the world, but the GRAACC’s medical team keeps following up carefully as this stage of treatment requires. Now, each family outing becomes even more joyful.