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Childhood Cancer

Childhood Cancer. Gold Award Project – 2013 By Annika Lars. What do these ribbons mean?. What do these ribbons mean?. The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Many people do not recognize this ribbon; however, it stands for childhood cancer.

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Childhood Cancer

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  1. Childhood Cancer Gold Award Project – 2013 By Annika Lars

  2. What do these ribbons mean?

  3. What do these ribbons mean? • The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. • Many people do not recognize this ribbon; however, it stands for childhood cancer.

  4. What is Childhood Cancer? • Childhood cancer is a collection of diseases • Every day in America, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer • Approximately 12,400 between birth and 19 are diagnosed every year

  5. Types of Cancer • 12 major types of cancer: bones, muscle, blood, liver, kidney, eyes • Blood (Leukemias) and brain tumors make up more than half of cases • Common adult cancers rarely occur in children

  6. Causes • There is no known cause of childhood cancer • Some are even born with cancer

  7. Statistics • Leading cause of death in children under 18 • The median age at diagnosis is six years old • Some forms of pediatric cancer have a 5 year survival rate of more than 90%, while others have a 5 year survival rate of less than 2%

  8. Treatment • While adults often go through about a year of treatment, children often have an average treatment length of three years (cure to remission)

  9. Battle After Treatment • Due to the toxic therapies used to cure cancer, the young survivors will have serious side-effects: • Delayed cognitive development • Stunted growth • Damaged speech and/or hearing • Infertility and Endocrine Dysfunction • Learning Disabilities • Physical Handicaps due to nerve damage or amputation

  10. The Battle After Treatment • 1 out of 4 will not live past 5 years • 3 out of 4 will have life-long complications from their aggressive treatments • 25% of survivors have severe/life-threatening effects • 10% will develop a secondary cancer • Only 20% of children receive follow-up care which is crucial (90% of adults do)

  11. Need for Change • 80% of cases: diagnosis is delayed until the disease is very advanced and has spread to other parts of the body (only 20% in adults) • Because childhood cancers tend to be more aggressive, this late diagnosis can affect the severity of the diagnosis

  12. Need for Change • Pediatric cancer patients are often still treated with drugs that were created in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s • In the past 20 years, the FDA has only approved one new drug exclusively for pediatric patients

  13. Effects of Childhood Cancer • Chemotherapy and radiation make children feel sick and weak as well as make their hair fall out • Entire family is affected: a parent may have to quit their job, and often siblings are neglected • Parents can spend over 40 hours per week caring for their child

  14. What Can You Do? • Help scientists search for a cure by donating or fundraising to support childhood cancer research • Volunteer for a local organization

  15. Extra Links • http://www.acco.org/Information/TreatmentandSurvivorship/EducationalIssues.aspx • http://www.acco.org/Information/AboutChildhoodCancer/ChildhoodCancerStatistics.aspx

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