September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September 20, 2017

Every year, more than 250,000 children aged 20 and bellow are diagnosed of cancer around the world. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 15,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer before they reach the age of 20. And because of this, cancer among children is the number one cause of death by disease in children.

For a parent, there is nothing more frightening than  hearing the doctor say  " Your child has cancer." It's even tougher witnessing your child go through it. It doesn't only devastate the family emotionally, but financially as well. While it is true that major advancements in the field of medicine and in cancer research has been done throughout the years, and cancer survival rate has gone up from just 10% from fifty years ago to almost 90% today, it was still estimated that 1 out of 8 cancer victims will succumb to the disease. Also, children who were diagnosed with cancer and survived usually suffer from late effects, such as infertility, heart failure, and sometimes secondary cancers.  

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an important time to talk and spread awareness about the disease. Spreading awareness regarding childhood cancer can be done in so many ways. Here are just some of them.

• Get Involved in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and show kids diagnosed with cancer and their families that you care and that they are not alone in this battle.
• Learn the facts and become familiar with childhood cancer and share it to anyone who wishes to learn more about what childhood cancer is all about.
• If you're up for doing something bold, then perhaps shave your head as a sign of your support to every kid that is diagnosed with cancer.
• Join fundraising activities that help children with cancer.
• Rally up your community and create gift baskets and give it to kids who are diagnosed with cancer.

Some Childhood Cancer Facts

• Childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.
• Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the U.S.
• One in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they are 20 years old.
• Every year, an estimated 250,000+ new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 worldwide.
• Two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have long lasting chronic conditions from treatment.
• Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group; socioeconomic class; or geographic region.
• Childhood cancer is not just one disease. It is made up of a dozen types and countless sub-types.

In a perfect world,  childhood should only be a time for discovery, wonder and adventure. But in our reality, childhood cancer exists. This month of Childhood Cancer Awareness, let us all do our best to bring awareness to this sad reality and hope that by spreading the word, then something more can be done, such as having a higher understanding of childhood cancer risks, creating better healthcare and raising more funds for aid and research. 

---

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

---

Also in Blog