What is DIPG?
DIPG stands for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, it is highly aggressive and one of the most difficult to treat childhood tumors. It is the second most common malignant brain tumor, as well as the leading cause of brain tumor death in children. DIPG typically affects children between the ages of 3-10, with approximately 200-400 children diagnosed a year. The median survival is 9 months from diagnosis.
Symptoms of DIPG usual consist of: problems with balance and walking, problems with eyes (including double visions, uncontrolled eye movements, dropping eyelids, blurred vision), problems chewing and swallowing, morning headaches, weakness in arms or legs, clumsiness.
Liv like a Unicorn is committed to funding advancements and treatments for DIPG. Currently there are no curative treatment options. Radiation, steroids, and some forms of chemotherapy are used for palliative treatment to help alleviate symptoms. Clinical trials are used to evaluate new pathways for treatments. Without private funding most of these trials would not occur.