In this powerful episode of Game Over: c*ncer, hosts Dana and Val sit down with Dr. Kira Bona, pediatric oncologist at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, to explore a critical but often overlooked issue in pediatric cancer care: access and health equity.<br /><br />Dr. Bona shares groundbreaking research revealing that one in three children diagnosed with cancer lives in a household facing poverty-related challenges, such as food insecurity, housing instability, or lack of transportation. Even when children receive treatment at top hospitals and participate in clinical trials, these social factors can still impact survival outcomes.<br /><br />Together, they unpack how social determinants of health influence treatment success, why traditional support systems may not be enough, and what researchers are doing to create health equity interventions that improve outcomes for children and families facing financial hardship.<br /><br />This conversation highlights the intersection of oncology and public health, offering hope for a future where every child fighting cancer has an equal chance to survive and thrive.<br /><i></i><br /><i>Support the Ignite Consortium: <a href="https://igniteconsortium.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://igniteconsortium.org</a></i><br /><i>----------------------------------</i><br /><i>Connect with Dana: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/</a></i><br /><i>Connect with Val: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/</a><br /><br />Upcoming Ckc Events: <a href="https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/</a><br /><br />----------------------------------<br />Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: <a href="https://www.hihellolabs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.hihellolabs.com/</a></i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />