Dear Jack...

49 1 in 23%.
13 200,000
is the is the median age at death for
Of cancer diagnoses involving
median age people killed by ALL.

13%
children, ALL cases make up

61.4%.
at which of men and women born today
people with will be diagnosed with ALL at Since the 1960s, the
ALL are people die annually 5-year survival rate for

let’s beat this.

some point in their life, based on
diagnosed. from ALL. ALL patients has gone up
data from 2005-2007.

One musician’s fight against acute lymphoblastic leukemia 60.3%

PATIENT
ID: Acute

A
lymphoblastic leukemia

ndrew McMahon’s musical accomplishments are

SYMPTOMS OF ALL PATIENT
impressive. As frontman of the southern California punk band AGE AT
Something Corporate, he released three studio albums in three years, 16.2%
two of them with a major label. Refusing to limit himself to the DIAGNOIS* 12.8% 9%
1.7%
confines of Something Corporate’s style, McMahon launched side
project Jack’s Mannequin, named for a close friend’s brother who
24.8% 25.1%
survived leukemia. The first album by Jack’s Mannequin, Everything BRUISING/ 20.5% 23.6%
INFECTION
In Transit, reached no. 37 on the Billboard 200 in its first week. BLEEDING 6%
FATALITIES
His most inspiring success story, though, has nothing to do
with music. BY AGE**
In 2005, Andrew was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (ALL). ALL is the most common type of childhood cancer, UNDER 20 20-44 45-64 65-84 85+
SWOLLEN OR
usually manifesting itself before the age of 19. Patients with ALL PALENESS TENDER
often have difficulty fighting other infection. A portion of their white *Data from 2004-2008 **Data from 2003-2007
LYMPH NODES
blood cells never fully mature, leaving less room for the healthy
lymphocytes that are responsible for the production of antibodies.
ALL is typically treated with chemotherapy and a drug regimen that
spans a period of two to three years. Today, the survival rate for
patients with ALL is approximately 66.4 percent. Children under five
years of age have the best odds, with a survival rate of 90.8 percent. BONE AND
JOINT PAIN FATIGUE
Andrew McMahon’s diagnosis came when he was 22 years
old. In less than a year, contrary to the doctors’ predictions, McMa-
hon was back on stage after receiving a stem cell transplant from his
sister, Katie. Though he is currently in remission and continuing to
pursue his musical career, his fight against ALL is far from over.
In 2006, McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation to TINY RED FEVER
raise money for the research and treatment of ALL. In the four years SPOTS
since it began, the organization has hosted walks for the cause, There are no early detection tests for ALL,
(PETECHIAE) since the effects of the disease do not
sponsored benefit concerts, and auctioned off music memorabilia and necessarily escalate with time. It can be
concert tickets online. The organization also sells apparel and the diagnosed through close examination of
Morrisroe and Moss documentary Dear Jack in its online store, with blood samples or bone marrow samples taken

2010
proceeds helping to fund research. Recipients of DJF donations from the spine in a process called aspiration.

May 27, 2005

include The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, UCLA’s stem cell

Aug. 23, 2005 July 2006

transplant program, and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
Andrew embarks on
Andrew cancels a string of Andrew founds the Dear Jack Foun- a reunion tour with
2004
shows as a result of an After radiation and
dation to raise awareness and funds Something Corpo-

Dec. 2, 2005
chemotherapy,

Sept. 3, 1982
unending bout of laryngitis. rate. The first DJF
for the fight against ALL.

June 1, 2005
Andrew decides to Andrew receives a
1998
Benefit Concert,

Nov. 3, 2009 Something Corpo-

break from stem cell transplant. featuring both
Andrew is born in Something Corpo- “Everything in Andrew plays his first show
Massachusettes. By Andrew forms Something rate to work on Andrew is diagnosed in six months to an
Transit” is released. The documentary Dear Jack is rate and Jack’s
the time he is 8, he is Corporate. Two years later, side project Jack’s with acute lymphoblastic invitation-only crowd, just
the band signs a record deal leukemia. 100 days after his transplant. released, with a portion of the Mannequin, raises
playing the piano and Mannequin. proceeds going to DJF. $300,000.
composing music. with Drive-Thru Records.

Sources: Wikipedia, dearjackfoundation.com, cancer.gov, lls.org, leukemia.emedtv.org, seer.cancer.org, mctdirect.com

MCT Photo of Andrew McMahon by Kelly A. Swift