September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the US. The numbers are staggering. The odds are 1 in every 330 people in the US will develop with cancer before they are 20 years old. That is 36 children every day being diagnosis with cancer.

Every year there are around 40,000 children being treated for cancer. Through out the US, 1 out of every 4 elementary schools has a student that has cancer. By the time the students reach high school, every high school has twostudents that are cancer patients or are past cancer patients.

Unfortunately, when childhood cancers are first diagnosis they are usually in more advance stages. And cancer does strike young. The median age is 6 for children fighting childhood cancer.

The most common form of cancer in children is Leukemia. This blood cancer makes up around 33% of all childhood cancers. Just behind Leukemia in childhood cancers are brain cancers. They are the second most common cancers in children.

What is the purpose behind September being declared Childhood Cancer Awareness Month? The main reason is to increase awareness about childhood cancers. It is staggering how many children and families are affect by cancer.

We can all make a difference in the fight against childhood cancers. How can you help?

Write to the congress and help make them aware of just how many little lives are battling cancer today. Ask them for more funding to go towards research to find preventions, treatments and cures for childhood cancers.

Give some of your time. Volunteer at a children cancer hospital. You can do simple tasks such as play games with the children or read books to them. The hospital can tell you more about what is needed.

You can help spread the word and help inform others by just tell them about childhood cancer. Of course your donation to a childhood cancer research program is always welcomed and much needed.

While we have made progress in the battle against childhood cancer, 11 children still die from cancer every day. Maybe one day no little ones will have to battle cancer and we will not have a need for September to be Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.