September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Childhood Cancer Information

• There are 12 different types of Childhood Cancers.

• Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America’s children – more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and pediatric HIV/AIDS combined.

• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

• Each day 7 children will die.

• One in 285 children will develop cancer by age 20.

• Research shows that on average 1 in every 4 elementary schools have a child with cancer and the average high school has 2 students who are either current or former cancer patients.

• Each year in the U.S. over 11,630 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer. • 80% of children have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis as compared to only 20% of adults.

• Although the 5-year survival rate is steadily increasing, approximately one quarter of children diagnosed with cancer will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

• The rate and frequency of the more invasive Childhood Cancers has steadily increased over the recent years.

Things to discuss with young children about children with cancer:

• Cancer is not contagious.

• Children with cancer usually have no hair due to their treatments, but yes, it will growback.

• Children with cancer may not come to school often because they are receiving treatments.

• Children with cancer can become very shy around other kids because they feel “different”, encourage children to interact and treat the child the same as others if they meet a child with cancer.

Things to discuss with adolescents and teenagers who are usually more understanding of peers with cancer:

• Teach the scientific basis for the disease.

• Teach students about chemotherapy and radiation and how they work to combat cancer.

• Teach students the need for continued research for Childhood Cancer.