Forty years ago, when Ukandu was conceived, the average five-year relative survival rate for a child diagnosed with cancer was around 58%. Today, that rate has risen to approximately 85%. This is a testament to decades of advances in treatment and supportive care. In the United States alone, more than half a million people are living as childhood cancer survivors, and that number continues to grow each year. 

These numbers represent something profound: children who grew up to become adults, parents, teachers, artists, scientists, advocates, and more. They represent families who held their breath through treatment—and finally exhaled into survivorship. They represent hope made real.

And yet, even as survival rates improve, the journey does not end at remission.

Treatment is often grueling, and its effects can last a lifetime. By age 45, nearly 95% of childhood cancer survivors will develop at least one significant health condition related to their diagnosis or treatment. Survivors face elevated risks of heart disease, secondary cancers, endocrine disorders, and cognitive challenges. They are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than their peers, and many will face symptoms of post-traumatic stress at some point in their lives.

These challenges extend beyond the physical. A cancer diagnosis during childhood intersects with critical stages of emotional, cognitive, and social development. Survivors may encounter difficulties in education, employment, relationships, and independent living—milestones that can feel harder to reach after spending formative years in hospitals instead of classrooms. Research consistently shows that psychosocial well-being is not separate from physical health; it directly influences long-term outcomes, including overall survival.

But there is another side to this story: support changes everything.

Community programs help children and families reconnect, rebuild social confidence, and rediscover joy. Peer support and mentoring empower young survivors to navigate life after treatment with greater resilience. Evidence-based psychosocial interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and family-centered programs, reduce anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress while improving overall quality of life. In fact, self-esteem and social connection are among the strongest predictors of long-term well-being, often outweighing even medical factors.

And this need for support does not end when treatment ends—it spans a lifetime.

Yet too often, families report feeling under-supported once active care concludes. Conversations about emotional health, identity, and long-term survivorship are frequently limited or absent. Many survivors describe feeling only partially—or not at all—supported during this critical transition.

This is where Ukandu comes in.

We believe that every child, every survivor, and every family affected by pediatric cancer, including those grieving a loss, deserves a community that understands both what they’ve been through and what lies ahead. We exist to bridge the gaps that traditional healthcare cannot always fill; offering camps, retreats, peer connection, and psychosocial support proven to help families heal, and survivors thrive.

Wherever you are in your journey—whether in treatment, newly navigating life after it, years into survivorship, or supporting someone you love—you belong here.

At Ukandu, there is a place for you.

We are here to support your journey back to joy.

More Than Medicine is Ukandu's new blog series, created and curated by Ukandu Clinical Director Joel Lampert, PsyD, that shares stories, insights, and support for families battling childhood cancer. Joel specializes in supporting children and families facing complex medical and mental health challenges, especially childhood cancer. An Oregon native, he earned his doctorate from Pacific University and completed pediatric training at Children’s Home Society of Idaho. Known for his compassionate, culturally responsive care, he has served on the medical staff at Randall Children's Hospital and continues to mentor future clinicians.