Doctors are working to learn more about DIG, ways to prevent it, how to best treat it, and how to provide the best care to children diagnosed with this disease. The following areas of research may include new options for patients through clinical trials [2]. Always talk with your child’s doctor about the diagnostic and treatment options best for your child.

Because DIG is quite rare, DIG-specific clinical trials may be hard to find. However, patients and doctors are encouraged to review clinical trials focusing on childhood brain tumors, which sometimes include patients with different types of tumors.

New treatments and imaging tests. Researchers are looking at new medications, different treatment combinations, and improved imaging techniques to treat childhood brain tumors.

Supportive care. Clinical trials are underway to find better ways of reducing symptoms and side effects of current DIG treatments in order to improve patients’ comfort and quality of life.

Learn more about common statistical terms used in cancer research [3].

Looking for More about Current Research?

If you would like additional information about the latest areas of research regarding childhood cancer, explore these related items.

• To find clinical trials specific to your child’s diagnosis, talk with your child’s doctor or search online clinical trial databases now [4].

• Review research announced at recent scientific meetings [5] or in ASCO’s peer-reviewed journals [6].

• Read ASCO’s latest Clinical Cancer Advances report [7], which highlights top research findings over the past year.

• Visit ASCO’s CancerProgress.Net [8] website to learn more about the historical pace of research for childhood cancer.

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