About Childhood Cancer

  • Cancer is the leading cause of disease in children younger than 15 years old. 
    • 143 children are diagnosed with cancer everyday. 
    • The average age is 6 years old.
  • Greater than 40,000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year. 
    • 1 out of 5 children will not survive. The average age of death is 8.
    • 3 out of 5 children who survive, suffer devastating late effects such as secondary cancers, muscular difficulties and infertility.
  • Childhood cancer prevelance
    • One in 300 boys will develop cancer before they are 20 years old.
    • One in 330 girls will develop cancer before they are 20 years old.
  • Childhood Cancer requires immediate treatment.
    • 80% of cancer in children has spread by the time it is diagnosed. 

Childhood Cancer Research

  • Pediatric treatment differs from adult treatment so seperate research is needed for each.
  • Because of research more than 80% will survive 5 years or more.  Survival rates vary depending on type of cancer. 
  • Less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget goes to Pediatric Cancer.  
  • Every 2 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer... Research is needed!

 

Financial Cost of Childhood Cancer

40,000 children undergo cancer treatment every year. What is the cost to each of their families?

  • The average family spends $9,700 in additional out of pocket medical expenses NOT covered by insurance
    • Examples: medication not covered by insurance, extra costs of surgery, hospital stays, treatments
  • 6 out of 10 families spend $1,000-$10,000 in out of pocket nonmedical expenses NOT covered by insurance
    • Examples: paying for parking and travel to medical facilities, food, accomodations
  • This averages to a quarter of a family's weekly budget.
  • Treatment of childhood cancer is so time consuming that a parent often has to cut back or leave a job in order to take care of their child.

 

(According to: https://www.acco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=wsmqr_E8Tf8%3d&tabid=1498, http://www.curesearch.org/Childhood-Cancer-Statistics/, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sherri-bushong-maxey/childhood-cancer-awareness-month-_b_1878906.html, http://www2.mdanderson.org/depts/oncolog/articles/12/2-feb/2-12-1.html)

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