Joe McDonough on Supporting Families During a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis

Joe McDonough, president of The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation, has spent nearly 20 years supporting children with cancer and their families. He co-founded the foundation after losing his son Andrew, and it has grown into one of the largest providers of financial assistance for families of children with cancer in the U.S.

In December 2025, McDonough was honored at the Blood Cancer Heroes event, which recognizes individuals making a meaningful impact on people living with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and myeloproliferative neoplasms. The event, hosted by CURE with Blood Cancer United, celebrates those who amplify patient voices and strengthen support networks.

In this interview, McDonough shares the message he hopes families hear when first facing a diagnosis.

Transcript

When families first face a diagnosis and feel overwhelmed or scared, what is the first message you hope they hear or the most important thing you want them to understand?

People have been down this road before you. Your children are off running around, playing games and soccer and baseball and going to college. Thankfully, due to the investment in research, most children will survive cancer, particularly the hematologic cancers, and that is hope. When you are told your child has cancer, most people will automatically think the worst, and a lot of people will go to websites and Google; I say, don't do that. Focus on today and recognize that there are a lot of treatment options and there are a lot of great hospitals in this country. We are very blessed. So, there are a lot of options.

I am not going to tell you it is going to be easy, and I am not going to tell you it is going to be quick, but it is a journey that is going to be kind of long. You can go down that road, and I also will never promise anyone a certain outcome. My outcome is not what I expected it was going to be, but most kids do survive childhood cancer.

When a family comes to me at diagnosis and is looking for a friend, I want to be that friend. I let them know clearly that I am not a doctor, but I have been down a similar, not identical, but similar, path. What happens is, when a child is diagnosed, the family, of course, taps into their friend and family network, and so often people say, "I know what you're going through." No, you don't. You do not know what they are going through unless someone has said to you, "Your child has cancer." I have heard those words, and so what I want the family to know is that I am here as a friend. Yes, we write checks and things, but I am here as a friend. You can talk to me. We can speak the same language. I have been down a similar road, though everyone's is unique.

I want to be careful to say that I am never, ever going to say I know what you are going through because I don't; everyone's relationship with their child is different. But I do want them to know, though it is a kind of overused expression, that this is a club you never want to be in, and I want them to know they have someone they can talk to.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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