Pediatric Cancer: The (Sobering) Facts
Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death among children under 18. More children are lost to pediatric cancer than all other childhood diseases combined. Just how staggering are the numbers?
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Before they turn 20, 1 in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed with one of the hundreds of forms of pediatric cancer.
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In the United States, 46 families ever day will hear the words: "Your child has cancer."
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Worldwide, a child is diagnosed every 3 minutes.
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Notwithstanding these statistics, only 4% of the National Institute for Health budget for cancer research is spent on the hundreds of forms of pediatric cancer that strike down our children. Contrary to what adult organizations tell you, pediatric cancers are not the same as their adult counterparts and adult treatments usually are ineffective in children, even when the children are in their late teens when diagnosed.
Unlike adult cancers, pediatric cancers are not related to lifestyle factors and little can be done to prevent them. In addition, many adult cancers can be diagnosed early. For 80% of pediatric cancer patients, cancer has already spread to other parts of the body before diagnosis occurs.
Even for survivors, the battle continues. The treatments used to combat the disease cause chronic health problems, including secondary cancers, for 95% of survivors if they make to the age of 45. Over 80% of these individuals have severe or life-threatening conditions.
Source: www.Stbaldricks.org
Unlike adult cancers, pediatric cancers are not related to lifestyle factors and little can be done to prevent them. In addition, many adult cancers can be diagnosed early. For 80% of pediatric cancer patients, cancer has already spread to other parts of the body before diagnosis occurs.
Even for survivors, the battle continues. The treatments used to combat the disease cause chronic health problems, including secondary cancers, for 95% of survivors if they make to the age of 45. Over 80% of these individuals have severe or life-threatening conditions.
Source: www.Stbaldricks.org