The following statistics were found at
:

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States.

1 in 5 children diagnosed with cancer will die within 5-years

1 in 3 children diagnosed with cancer will not live-out a normal life-span

Some pediatric brain tumors, such as brain stem gliomas and pontine gliomas, are terminal upon diagnosis and no new protocols have been developed in 30 years.

Many pediatric cancers, including neuroblastoma and disseminated medulloblastoma, are terminal upon progression or recurrence.

The average age of death for a child with cancer is 8, causing a child to lose 69 years of expected life.

Childhood cancers affect more potential patient-years of life than any other cancer except breast and lung cancer.

Cancer kills more children than AIDs, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined.

Yet, I find it disheartening that there is very limited funding for childhood cancer research.

Childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.

In 20 years the FDA has initially approved only two drugs for any childhood cancer – 1/2 of all chemotherapies used for children’s cancers are over 25 years old.

Research and development for new drugs from pharmaceutical companies comprises 60% of funding for adult cancer drugs and close to zero for childhood cancers. However, the NCI spends 96% of its budget on adult cancers and only 4% of its budget on children’s cancers.

Cancer treatments can affect a child’s growth, fertility, and endocrine system. Child survivors may be permanently immunologically suppressed.

Radiation to a child’s brain can significantly damage cognitive function, or if radiation is given at a very young age, limiting the ability to read, do basic math, tell time or even talk.

Physical and neurocognitive disabilities resulting from treatment may prevent childhood cancer survivors from fully participating in school, social activities and eventually work, which can cause depression and feelings of isolation.

Childhood cancer survivors have difficulty getting married and obtaining jobs, health and life insurance.

74% of childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses, and some 40% of childhood cancer survivors have severe illnesses or die from such illnesses.

Childhood cancer survivors are at significant risk for secondary cancers later in life.

* * * * *

With that, I share with you
.

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

Finding cures, saving children. – St. Jude’s