Cancer Awareness Month Reviewed

So here we are at the end of September and the end of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month (and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and National Sewing Month).  I hope that I’ve helped bring at least a little bit more awareness to this horrible disease that affects not just mine, but thousands of other families across the country.  What have we learned?

• Every day, 10 children will be diagnosed with a brain tumor while 3 more children will die.
• Many of the symptoms of brain tumors are common ailments that can be misdiagnosed very easily.
• Pediatric cancer research funding is woefully underfunded compared to other cancers, especially at large, well known organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.  If you want your money to go specifically to children’s cancers, you need to pick organizations that are solely dedicated to them (such as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, or the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation).
• There are a bunch of new brain tumor treatments on the horizon, but unfortunately, most of them target adults before they target children.
• If you are diagnosed with cancer, you should collect as much tumor sample as possible and bank it (ask your medical professional or do a search for tumor banking).  This may be used to create a customized vaccine for your cancer.
• Pork rinds are our best friends!

Pediatric cancer awareness should not be limited to a single month.  Every day, kids like Isabella are fighting for their lives while their families try to cope with their future’s uncertainty.  So the next time you find yourself with some problem, think about these kids and compare your problem with theirs.  That should help put everything in perspective.

Thanks for reading the blog.