CHICAGO, July 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The only family education and medical conference focused solely on the latest treatments and clinical trials for neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer whose primary victims are infants and toddlers, returns July 14–17 to the Westin Hotel in Lombard, Illinois. Sponsored by the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation with generous support from United Therapeutics Corporation, the annual conference brings families together with the country's leading neuroblastoma researchers. Families not only learn about advanced treatments, medications and clinical trials, they gain the emotional support and camaraderie with others whose lives have been impacted by this terrible disease.
Every year, an estimated 700 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a solid tumor cancer that manifests in the head, neck, chest, pelvis or abdomen. The average age at diagnosis is 2, and the survival rate is 40 percent for patients in advanced stages of the disease.
United Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical manufacturer, supports the conference in keeping with its mission to address the unmet needs of patients with life-threatening conditions.
Neuroblastoma is more common in newborns than leukemia, but funding from public and private resources remains in the low single digits. Pat Tallungan, president of CNCF, co-founded the organization in 2000 after her 10-year-old son, Nick, succumbed to the disease. This year is the 12th CNCF Parent Education and Medical Conference.
"Funding to find a cure and increase awareness about childhood cancers is merely a fraction of what is spent for adult cancer research," Tallungan says. "We've made great strides improving survival rates and focusing attention on research to combat relapse and the after-effects of treatment. That's largely due to the support of private sector companies like United Therapeutics Corporation and private individuals who know or have lost a child with neuroblastoma. United Therapeutics recognizes there is a void in the medical community and has stepped in to help fill it. We're grateful for their support of our conference and our families."
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and individual donations can be made at cncfhope.org. Click DONATE NOW and select "CNCF Conference" from the drop-down menu.
During the conference, Tallungan, some participating families and speakers will be available for interviews. Contact T. Shawn Taylor at tshawntaylor@yahoo.com or call 312-371-6260 for media access and information.
SOURCE Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation