While most children with cancer are being treated successfully, 30 percent to 40 percent suffer long-term neurocognitive problems, says the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation.

“;Unfortunately, the advance in chemotherapy agents is killing some of the good brain cells as well as those they're trying to kill,”; said Dr. Wendi Hirsch, a child psychologist at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and foundation board member.

She said the impact of chemotherapy and radiation on the cognitive abilities of young cancer patients has become known only in the past few years.

“;There are a lot of variables that factor into that: the age of diagnosis, the type of therapy and for how long,”; she said. “;Just understanding this is an issue in a long-term way for children and parents.”;

The foundation is bringing one of the nation's most pre-eminent researchers in the field here this week with support from the NFL Charities to help increase awareness of the problems.

Dr. Danny Armstrong is professor of pediatrics and psychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and directs the Mailman Center for Child Development. He is co-principal investigator with the National Cancer Institute's Children's Oncology Group on a study of neurocognitive outcomes in children treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia.

He will give a dinner presentation for families and the community from 5 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Kapiolani Medical Center. The event is free, but those attending are asked to notify the Children's Cancer Foundation (528-5161) for a head count.

Besides discussions with oncologists and doing pediatric grand rounds, Armstrong will meet with Hawaii Medical Service Association officials to discuss the need for early testing of children for neurocognitive effects of chemotherapy.

Diane Ono, chairwoman of the foundation and its long-term survivors committee, experienced the problems with her daughter Mari Galiher, now 16, who had leukemia at age 4. “;She has her challenges but she's managing pretty well,”; Ono said.

She said the foundation is looking to Armstrong to explain to educators and the community “;that while medicine is so successful at curing children, the cure comes with certain problems and challenges. ...

...”;These are new problems because in years past, many children didn't survive,”; she said. With longer and longer survival rates, problems become more obvious as children go through school, and “;special strategies and interventions”; are needed to support them in school and afterward, she said.

The youngest kids have the most problems because their brains are developing, said Mina Humphreys, foundation board member, fundraising committee chairwoman and member of the long-term survivors committee.

“;The cure rate for leukemia is up around 75 percent, which is wonderful, but it took a while to figure out there's a price to pay for that,”; she said. “;So all across the nation they're studying how they can kill the cancer but save the brain as much as possible.”;

Her grandson, TJ Colby, had learning and behavior problems after treatment for leukemia at age 2. He relapsed at age 5 and had to have stronger chemotherapy, she said. With efforts focused on saving his life, his cognitive deficits were not immediately recognized, she said.

Now 13, her grandson “;is doing OK, but school is always going to be an issue for him,”; she said. Kailua Intermediate was too big for him, so he was transferred to the smaller Kailua Christian Academy and “;is doing very well”; in seventh grade, she said.