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On June 1, 2010 our two year old, "Little Air Bear," was diagnosed with Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Type M7. After enduring 146 days at Primary Children's Hospital, Erin is now in remission and living a full life at home with our family. Her strong will and constant happy smile is an inspiration to us all. Through our difficult circumstances we found great strength and peace in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for checking in on us.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - pass it on!

Imagine cancer as a sinking boat, with all of us on-board.  Who do we care for first?  We get the women and the children to safety, right?  And we know that any grieving person would give up their seat to a child.  But, that is not true in the world of cancer funding.  What we have is first class seating, funding for adults. 
Approximately 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year.
That's 34 children diagnosed every day!
Every year approximately 2,500 children die of cancer.
That's 7 children killed each day!

Childhood cancer is the #1 cause of death from disease for our children.
Every year it kills more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and pediatric AIDS combined!

When we talk of children we talk about the nearly 30% of our population that is under age 20.

It's September...are you seeing the GOLD?  Me neither...there isn't much out there, something must be done.

Gold is the color for childhood cancer.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  


The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research and training.  Do you want to see where some of your tax dollars are going?

Over the past 5 years the NCI has given
24% to breast cancer funding
5% to prostate cancer funding
5% to lung cancer funding
3%-4% to childhood cancer funding

I am sorry for anyone who has to fight cancer, my mother-in-law is just starting treatment for breast cancer and I've had other family members and friends who have fought cancer.  Cancer is an awful thing.  But, it is so wonderful that there are strong adult voices out there demanding a cure for adult men and women's cancers.  But, WE have to be the voice for the children.
It is amazing that breast cancer (if detected early) has a 99% cure rate.  Prostate cancer has a 5 year 99% survival rate.  Yet, we don't have those numbers for childhood cancer.  Erin's cancer has a 50% 5 year relapse rate.  Childhood cancer is typically more aggressive than adult cancer and children's bodies respond differently to "hand-me-down" adult chemotherapy treatments.  This why we need childhood cancer research, and lots of it.  

The more awareness and media attention = more funding.  

Please support the children!
Awareness is the key!
Please pass this on
Copy and paste my blog post to your blog, or direct a link to this blog post.

You can find more detailed information HERE on the People Against Childhood Cancer Site.

1 comment:

  1. i love the sinking boat analogy - i think it really drives the point home. cancer is horrible in any form- at any age- and all life is precious, but don't you think there are so many adults with cancer who would gladly "give up their seat" in the metaphorical life raft :) to save a child with cancer? childhood cancer research needs more funding!

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