Did you know....
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month!
·Each year in the U.S., approximately 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. That’s the equivalent of two average size classrooms diagnosed each school day.
·Today, nearly 80 percent of children diagnosed with blood-related cancers sbecome long-term survivors and the majority of them are considered cured. The survival rate for other cancers, such as most solid tumors is still not that high. In the early 1950s, less than 10 percent of childhood cancer patients could be cured.
·Leukemias, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles are the most common childhood cancers.
·In the U.S., cancer remains responsible for more deaths from one year through adolescence than any other disease; more deaths than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
·Combined, the cancers of children, adolescents and young adults to age 20 are the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.
The most common childhood cancers are different from the most common adult cancers. Adults are most commonly affected by breast, lung, prostate, bowel and bladder cancers. Children are most often affected by acute leukemias, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer. Leukemias also occur in adults, but the treatments used to cure children affected by ALL are very different from those used to treat adults.
Several cancers of adults have names similar to those of children, but the most effective treatments for children are often quite different from those for adults.
The causes of cancer in adults and children are also different. The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown. However, the known causes of cancer that occur late in life include environmental, occupational and lifestyle factors.
Types of Childhood Cancer
Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and tissues which produce the circulating blood cells. Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers.
Types of leukemia include:
·Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL):The most common childhood cancer. Almost 75% of children with leukemia have ALL, a cancer of the lymphoid cells in the bone marrow and the lymphoid organs of the body. They are involved in the body’s immune system.
·Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML): AML (also called acute myeloid leukemia, acute nonlymphatic leukemia or ANLL) is cancer of the myeloid blood cells which are produced in the bone marrow and which help fight bacterial infections.
Cancers of the Central Nervous System
·Brain tumors: There are many types of brain tumors; the most common are called gliomas.
·Neuroblastoma: is a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system which most often originates in the adrenal glands above the kidney.
Sarcomas
Sarcomas are cancerous tumors involving the bones and soft tissues.
Bone cancers
·Osteosarcoma: the most common type of bone sarcoma. These tumors often are located at the growing end of the long bones of the extremities, close to the joints.
·Ewings Sarcoma: a bone cancer that often appears in the middle of the bone. Commonly found in the thighs, hipbones, upper arms and ribs.
Soft Tissue Sarcomas:
·Rhabdomyosarcoma: a soft tissue sarcoma that develops in muscles. Most often found in the head, neck, kidneys, bladder, arms and legs.
Lymphomas
Lymphoma is a tumor of the lymph tissues, which are part of the immune system.
Types of Lymphomas include:
·Hodgkin's disease or Hodgkin's lymphoma: affects lymph nodes nearer to the body’s surface, such as in the neck, armpit and groin area.
·Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: affects lymph nodes found deep within the body. There are many types of lymphoma, include Burkitt's, non-Burkitt's, and lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Liver Cancers
Liver cancer is an abnormal growth (tumor) in the liver.
The most common forms of liver cancer in children are:
·Hepatoblastoma
·Hepatocellular carcinoma
Cancers of the Kidney
·Wilms tumor: also called nephroblastoma
·Clear Cell Sarcoma
Other Types of Cancers
·Retinoblastoma: is a malignant tumor of the retina (a thin membrane in the back of the eye).
·Germ Cell Tumors: Germ cell tumors appear most commonly in the testes, the ovaries, the area at the bottom of the spine (sacrococcygeal) and in the middle of the brain, chest or abdomen.
How can you help???
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. You can make a difference.
*Wear a gold ribbon on your lapel. The gold ribbon is the official color of children with cancer worldwide, supported, recognized and promoted by hundreds of organizations and treatment centers, families, friends, and caregivers.
*Consider asking your child's school to recognize the month.
*Contact your local library and ask them to feature books about childhood cancer during September.
*Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper that informs readers about childhood cancer.
*Ask your employer or co-workers to recognize childhood cancer awareness month by wearing a gold ribbon during September or sponsoring a "dress down" day, with the proceeds benefiting a specific child or the N.C.C.S.
*Write your elected officials about the need for increased funding for childhood cancer programs and research.
A message from Jennifer:
Childhood Cancer Awareness is something very dear to my heart, and I hope that you will all take a moment this month, to think of all the children touched by this horrible disease, and wear a gold ribbon to show your support. NO child should have to fight this disease! If you would like to do more, please let me know and I can point you in the right direction! If anyone would like to join me in walking for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk, on October 7th, please let me know!! :) Or if you'd like to make a donation, visit my donation site!!!
My Light the Night Donation Site
Childhood Cancer facts from:
CureSearch
The National Childhood Cancer Society
·Each year in the U.S., approximately 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. That’s the equivalent of two average size classrooms diagnosed each school day.
·Today, nearly 80 percent of children diagnosed with blood-related cancers sbecome long-term survivors and the majority of them are considered cured. The survival rate for other cancers, such as most solid tumors is still not that high. In the early 1950s, less than 10 percent of childhood cancer patients could be cured.
·Leukemias, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles are the most common childhood cancers.
·In the U.S., cancer remains responsible for more deaths from one year through adolescence than any other disease; more deaths than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
·Combined, the cancers of children, adolescents and young adults to age 20 are the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.
The most common childhood cancers are different from the most common adult cancers. Adults are most commonly affected by breast, lung, prostate, bowel and bladder cancers. Children are most often affected by acute leukemias, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer. Leukemias also occur in adults, but the treatments used to cure children affected by ALL are very different from those used to treat adults.
Several cancers of adults have names similar to those of children, but the most effective treatments for children are often quite different from those for adults.
The causes of cancer in adults and children are also different. The causes of most childhood cancers are unknown. However, the known causes of cancer that occur late in life include environmental, occupational and lifestyle factors.
Types of Childhood Cancer
Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and tissues which produce the circulating blood cells. Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers.
Types of leukemia include:
·Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL):The most common childhood cancer. Almost 75% of children with leukemia have ALL, a cancer of the lymphoid cells in the bone marrow and the lymphoid organs of the body. They are involved in the body’s immune system.
·Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML): AML (also called acute myeloid leukemia, acute nonlymphatic leukemia or ANLL) is cancer of the myeloid blood cells which are produced in the bone marrow and which help fight bacterial infections.
Cancers of the Central Nervous System
·Brain tumors: There are many types of brain tumors; the most common are called gliomas.
·Neuroblastoma: is a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system which most often originates in the adrenal glands above the kidney.
Sarcomas
Sarcomas are cancerous tumors involving the bones and soft tissues.
Bone cancers
·Osteosarcoma: the most common type of bone sarcoma. These tumors often are located at the growing end of the long bones of the extremities, close to the joints.
·Ewings Sarcoma: a bone cancer that often appears in the middle of the bone. Commonly found in the thighs, hipbones, upper arms and ribs.
Soft Tissue Sarcomas:
·Rhabdomyosarcoma: a soft tissue sarcoma that develops in muscles. Most often found in the head, neck, kidneys, bladder, arms and legs.
Lymphomas
Lymphoma is a tumor of the lymph tissues, which are part of the immune system.
Types of Lymphomas include:
·Hodgkin's disease or Hodgkin's lymphoma: affects lymph nodes nearer to the body’s surface, such as in the neck, armpit and groin area.
·Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: affects lymph nodes found deep within the body. There are many types of lymphoma, include Burkitt's, non-Burkitt's, and lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Liver Cancers
Liver cancer is an abnormal growth (tumor) in the liver.
The most common forms of liver cancer in children are:
·Hepatoblastoma
·Hepatocellular carcinoma
Cancers of the Kidney
·Wilms tumor: also called nephroblastoma
·Clear Cell Sarcoma
Other Types of Cancers
·Retinoblastoma: is a malignant tumor of the retina (a thin membrane in the back of the eye).
·Germ Cell Tumors: Germ cell tumors appear most commonly in the testes, the ovaries, the area at the bottom of the spine (sacrococcygeal) and in the middle of the brain, chest or abdomen.
How can you help???
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. You can make a difference.
*Wear a gold ribbon on your lapel. The gold ribbon is the official color of children with cancer worldwide, supported, recognized and promoted by hundreds of organizations and treatment centers, families, friends, and caregivers.
*Consider asking your child's school to recognize the month.
*Contact your local library and ask them to feature books about childhood cancer during September.
*Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper that informs readers about childhood cancer.
*Ask your employer or co-workers to recognize childhood cancer awareness month by wearing a gold ribbon during September or sponsoring a "dress down" day, with the proceeds benefiting a specific child or the N.C.C.S.
*Write your elected officials about the need for increased funding for childhood cancer programs and research.
A message from Jennifer:
Childhood Cancer Awareness is something very dear to my heart, and I hope that you will all take a moment this month, to think of all the children touched by this horrible disease, and wear a gold ribbon to show your support. NO child should have to fight this disease! If you would like to do more, please let me know and I can point you in the right direction! If anyone would like to join me in walking for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk, on October 7th, please let me know!! :) Or if you'd like to make a donation, visit my donation site!!!
My Light the Night Donation Site
Childhood Cancer facts from:
CureSearch
The National Childhood Cancer Society