The Bluffton Lions Club hosted a team from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital at their club meeting on Feb. 6.  Dr. Randal Olshefski, pediatric oncologist, was the speaker for the group.

A fact given during the presentation is: "Every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer and less than half of the world’s children have access to effective care." 

Children who survive cancer are often left with debilitating effects that can impact their physical development and ability to learn. That’s why Lions are answering the call to expand access to life-saving treatment and support the children and families of those involved. 

Lions around the state are raising funds to help with research of pediatric cancer and supporting six cancer centers throughout Ohio. 

Bill Watkins was instrumental in obtaining Dr. Olshefski and team to attend the club meeting and explain the progress in research being conducted.

Dr. Olshefski’s clinical interests include the long-term outcome of childhood cancer survivors, focusing on late effects of treatment.  He mentioned that there is an 80-percent survival rate for children with cancer and that Nationwide Children’s Hospital is doing follow-up care of over 1,200 children at the present time.

The next five years will be interesting in the development of cures for pediatric cancer. The mission of the Children’s Hospital is to provide care for children within their service area. There are 31 pediatric oncologists on staff at the hospital doing clinical and research projects.

For many years a bone marrow transplant was being used to treat. In the past ten years cellular therapy has become the treatment of choice. 

Research is being done on cell therapy. In this case cells are taken from the patient and being engineered to be fused back into the patient as a live viable cell.

Onco-fertility is being studied. This pertains to the ability of the child, when becoming an adult, to be able to reproduce after receiving chemo and cancer treatment.  Studies are being done on freezing cells from an ovary and/or testicular biopsy to use in the future.

Cancer genetics clinics are also in research. If there is a family history of cancer, genetic testing is being offered to children to tell is they carry the gene.

Molecular genetics related to targeting therapy with a specific drug for the cancer to use in place of chemo is being studied.

The New Global Service framework for Lions International will help meet emerging humanitarian needs around the world and focus on five areas.  This includes:  Pediatric Cancer, Hunger Relief, Vision, Environment and Diabetes.  It is the goal of the Bluffton Lions Club to support these areas.