About DIPG

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DIPG is short for Diffuse Intrinsic Pointe Glioma. DIPG is a highly aggressive and difficult to treat pediatric brain tumor.

It is often considered the worst cancer in existence. DIPG affects kids 5-9 years of age, but anyone can get DIPG.

This cancerous tumor is inoperable due to its location in the middle of the brain stem (the Pons) and the way the tumor intertwines itself with normal tissue.

The pons controls many of the body's vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

As the tumor grows it causes the child/adult to suffer and to lose their ability to talk, walk, and even swallow. DIPG does not affect the cognitive ability of the brain, which is another reason it is so cruel. It torments physically while leaving the mind intact to be aware of it all.

The average life span when you have DIPG is 9 MONTHS post diagnosis. 90% will die within 18 months. Only 10% make it to 2 years or shortly beyond.

There is no cure for DIPG.  Standard treatment is 6 weeks of radiation to prolong life by a few months. Pediatric cancer is severely underfunded, with kids getting less than 4% of the allotted amount of government money for cancer research.

DIPG gets even less. About $500 per kid. With no funding, there will be no cure. With no awareness, there will be no funding. Please tell someone about DIPG today.