Sunday, September 4, 2011

Just the Facts



  • Cancer is the #1 cause of disease-related death among children.
  • 12,500 children and teens will be diagnosed with cancer this year.  46 kids are diagnosed every day.
  • 1 in 300 kids will be diagnosed with cancer before they are 20.
  • The average age of a child diagnosed with cancer is 8 years old.  Some cancers, like brain tumors, are more prevalent in babies.  Others, like osteosarcoma, are found more in teenagers.
  • Cure rates are increasing, nearing 80% for some cancers, but as low as 50% for others. 
  • 25% of kids diagnosed will die from their cancer or treatment effects.
  • Cancer kills more children than AIDs, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined.
  • There are no known causes of pediatric cancers, and no way to prevent them.  They occur in every geographic region, ethnic and economic group.
  • Blood cancers like leukemia are the most common among children (40% of cases), followed by brain and spine cancers (27%).
  • More than 60% of childhood cancer survivors suffer from devastating side effects from treatment including heart damage, lung damage, infertility, chronic hepatitis, cognitive effects, and secondary cancers.
  • In 2010, the federally-funded National Cancer Institute allocated $600 million to breast cancer research, $300 million to prostate cancer research (which has a 99%+ survival rate) and less than $175 million to all pediatric cancers combined.  Less than 4% of the NCI budget goes to pediatric cancer.
  • Pediatric cancers are considered "rare" and "non-profitable" by pharmaceutical companies, so very little funding to directed toward child-specific research and development.
  • The American Cancer Society gives less than 1% (.007 cents per dollar raised) to pediatric cancers.
  • The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society gives 2% of earnings to pediatric causes.

Sources:


3 comments:

Tams75 said...

These facts are very disturbing. All cancers are scary, but you would think more money would be given to help children fight these diseases and have a chance to live a wonderful life.

Mommy2CJ said...

WOW! Thanks for posting this, I had no idea! Looks likes there is need for continued research in all cancers, but also a huge need to shift money and look at the less common cancers, and those that affect the young. I will keep this in mind when supporting and donating to Cancer societies!

Kelli said...

This absolutely shocked me! I cannot believe so little is given to pediatric cancers/research. (Even by the Leukemia Society!) The only way to shift the funding is to raise more awareness. I've already shared this link twice on Facebook. Thank you for posting the facts, and as always you guys and Scarlett are in my prayers!