September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month (in the U.S.). Approximately 1 in 300 boys and 1 in 333 girls will develop cancer before their 20th birthday. Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related deaths in children. While the overall 5-year survival rate is up to about 80%, many survivors will face additional effects in their lifetime due to the initial cancer or treatment: secondary cancers, heart or lung damage, infertility, chronic hepatitis, and alterations in their physical, mental, and emotional development. The average age of cancer diagnosis in children is 10. For a child that does not survive, this equates to about 67 person years life lost - 67 birthdays that a child will not have.
Each year, over 12,000 persons under the age of 21 will be diagnosed with cancer, and almost one quarter of them will not survive.
Approximately 35 families in the U.S. learned today that their child has cancer.
About four children under the age of 15 in the U.S. will lose their battle with cancer today.
In honor of childhood cancer survivors, in remembrance of those who have died, I invite you to post your tributes, photos of hope, expressions of grief during the month. If you wish, you can tag them with CCA2012.
Here's mine to mark the beginning of the month, in memory of my great-niece, Karli.
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Each year, over 12,000 persons under the age of 21 will be diagnosed with cancer, and almost one quarter of them will not survive.
Approximately 35 families in the U.S. learned today that their child has cancer.
About four children under the age of 15 in the U.S. will lose their battle with cancer today.
In honor of childhood cancer survivors, in remembrance of those who have died, I invite you to post your tributes, photos of hope, expressions of grief during the month. If you wish, you can tag them with CCA2012.
Here's mine to mark the beginning of the month, in memory of my great-niece, Karli.