Childhood Cancer

Gold Award Project – 2013By Annika Lars

What do these ribbons mean?

What do these ribbons mean?The pink ribbon

is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness.

Many people do not recognize this ribbon; however, it stands for childhood cancer.

What is Childhood Cancer?Childhood cancer is a collection of

diseasesEvery day in America, 46 children

are diagnosed with cancerApproximately 12,400 between

birth and 19 are diagnosed every year

Types of Cancer12 major types of

cancer: bones, muscle, blood, liver, kidney, eyes

Blood (Leukemias) and brain tumors make up more than half of cases

Common adult cancers rarely occur in children

CausesThere is no

known cause of childhood cancer

Some are even born with cancer

StatisticsLeading cause of death in children

under 18 The median age at diagnosis is six

years oldSome forms of pediatric cancer

have a 5 year survival rate of more than 90%, while others have a 5 year survival rate of less than 2%

TreatmentWhile adults often

go through about a year of treatment, children often have an average treatment length of three years (cure to remission)

Battle After Treatment Due to the toxic therapies used to

cure cancer, the young survivors will have serious side-effects:

Delayed cognitive developmentStunted growthDamaged speech and/or hearing Infertility and Endocrine DysfunctionLearning DisabilitiesPhysical Handicaps due to nerve

damage or amputation

The Battle After Treatment 1 out of 4 will not live past 5 years 3 out of 4 will have life-long

complications from their aggressive treatments

25% of survivors have severe/life-threatening effects

10% will develop a secondary cancer Only 20% of children receive follow-up

care which is crucial (90% of adults do)

Need for Change80% of cases: diagnosis is delayed

until the disease is very advanced and has spread to other parts of the body (only 20% in adults)

Because childhood cancers tend to be more aggressive, this late diagnosis can affect the severity of the diagnosis

Need for ChangePediatric cancer patients are often

still treated with drugs that were created in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s

In the past 20 years, the FDA has only approved one new drug exclusively for pediatric patients

Effects of Childhood CancerChemotherapy and radiation make

children feel sick and weak as well as make their hair fall out

Entire family is affected: a parent may have to quit their job, and often siblings are neglected

Parents can spend over 40 hours per week caring for their child

What Can You Do?Help scientists

search for a cure by donating or fundraising to support childhood cancer research

Volunteer for a local organization

Extra Links http://www.acco.org/Information/

TreatmentandSurvivorship/EducationalIssues.aspx

http://www.acco.org/Information/AboutChildhoodCancer/ChildhoodCancerStatistics.aspx