Kristie McNealy, MD

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  While we are all familiar with the many pink campaigns dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and awareness, I have a feeling most of you didn’t even realize childhood cancer had a “month” of its own, or that the symbol of childhood cancer awareness is a gold ribbon.

Here are a few childhood cancer facts, to help you get a feel for the breadth of the problem:

• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer, and 1 in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.
• On the average 12,500 children and teens will be diagnosed with some form of cancer each year in this country.
• Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die within 5 years of their diagnosis.
• Cancer is the #1 disease killer of America’s children – more than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined.
• In the US, almost 3,000 childhood cancer patients die each year.
• Over the past two decades, only ONE new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric use.
• Currently there are between 30-40,000 children undergoing cancer treatment in the U.S.
• Research funds are scarce, because most money is diverted to well-publicized adult forms of cancer, such as breast and prostate.
• Right now, somewhere in America, there are 7 children fighting for their lives who won’t live through the day.

So, what can you do to help support children struggling with cancer, and increase funds going to childhood cancer research?  Here are a few ideas:

• Grab the gold ribbon image I’ve used above, and post it on your blog, along with an explanation.  Include a link back here if you’d like.
• Eat at Chili’s on September 29th, and/or participate in their create a pepper program.  Both will raise funds to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• Write a letter or send an email to retailers such as Target, who have chosen to feature products to benefit breast cancer research during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
• Go sign this petition, which is seeking to get the gold ribbon representing childhood cancer on products in stores near you.
• Visit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation for more information and fundraising activities.
• Go visit People Against Childhood Cancer, and see what you can do to help them raise awareness.
• Go visit Carepages, and leave a note of encouragement for a child living with cancer, or a family who has lost their child to this monster.  If you’re looking for a specific carepage to visit, try Coleman’s.  He’s a 4 year-old twin brother battling a recurrence of a brain tumor.  I first saw the stats I listed above posted on his site!
• As you’re browsing Carepages, check out the links provided by parents of childhood cancer patients.  They have a lot of great ideas to help!

Similar Posts:

• September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
• Eat at Chili’s and Other Ways to Raise Childhood Cancer Awareness
• Early Detection is Key in Breast Cancer Survival
• A Brief Rant on Prematurity Awareness . . . Medical Monday