September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know?

The Facts of Childhood Cancer

• Cancer remains the number one disease that claims the lives of our children. Each year cancer kills more children under the age of 20 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
• Each year in the U.S., approximately 12,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. That’s the equivalent of two average size classrooms diagnosed each school day.
• Today, nearly 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors and the majority of them are considered cured. In the early 1950s, less than 10 percent of childhood cancer patients could be cured.
• Leukemias, tumors of the brain and nervous system, the lymphatic system, kidneys, bones and muscles are the most common childhood cancers.
• In the U.S., cancer remains responsible for more deaths from one year through adolescence than any other disease; more deaths than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.
• Combined, the cancers of children, adolescents and young adults to age 20 are the sixth most common cancer in the U.S.
• Breakthroughs in pediatric oncology will undoubtedly continue to progress the diagnosis and treatment of adult cancers. Many of the principles in therapy used today in treating adults were first developed and tested for children.

With the kick of off so many Light the night walks this month, what better way to pay tribute to Childhood Cancer than to join your local team and start raising money. Together we can find a cure!

Also in honor of Childhood cancer awareness month Chili’s will be offering a couple of ways you can contribute. You can go any day and donate any amount and they will give you a chili pepper coloring sheet that you or your kids can design and color. Also, on the 29th, they will be donating all the proceeds from that day to St. Jude’s. So enjoy a night out, eating great food while supporting a great cause.  the Chili’s

President Bush Signs Conquer Childhood Cancer Bill

On July 16, the Senate unanimously passed The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008 (H.R. 1553). The bill had also passed the House unanimously on June 12. The bill significantly increases the federal investment in childhood cancer research, a LLS priority.

The bill would authorize $150 million over five years to develop grants for research fellowships in pediatric cancer, to fund a population-based national childhood cancer database and to award grants to childhood cancer organizations to raise public awareness, ensuring access to the best available therapies for pediatric cancers.

“Too many young people’s lives were cut short by cancer, but their hopes were not,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). “We have made great advances in treating cancer, but there is still much more to be done. The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act will deliver much needed hope and support to children and families battling cancer and more resources for vital pediatric cancer research programs.”

The bill had been introduced in the House by Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and in the Senate by Sens. Reed and Norm Coleman (R-MN). During the bill’s mark-up in the House, it was renamed after the Ohio representative’s daughter, Caroline, who lost her battle with neuroblastoma at age 9.

President Bush held a bill signing ceremony on July 29 with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Pryce, Reed and Coleman as well as several families and children with pediatric cancer from Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas. With the president’s signing of H.R. 1553, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act is now law!

Source: lls.org
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