It's every parent's worst nightmare. Finding out your child has cancer can be the most terrifying experience a parent can endure. Although relatively rare, children continue to be diagnosed with cancer each year.
Fast Facts About Childhood Cancer
This year, over 9,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer is the leading cause of death among children.
Over 1500 children died of cancer in 2005.
Children tend to develop different types of cancer than adults.Types of Childhood Cancer
Children can suffer from several types of cancer, such as
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Bone cancer
brain and spinal cord cancer
Ewing's Sarcoma
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Neuroblastoma
Osteosracoma
Retinoblastoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Wilm's TumorRisk Factors for Childhood Cancer
Unfortunately, many of the causes and risk factors of childhood cancer are not known. Unlike adults, children do not have lifestyle risk factors such as tobacco exposure, poor diet, or other modifiable risk factors that could cause cancer.
Genetics, however, can play a part in childhood cancer development.
Childhood Cancer Information
Childhood Cancer Resource Center
Symptoms of Childhood Cancer
Symptoms of Brain Tumor Screening Quiz
Childhood Cancer GlossaryRaising Awareness About Childhood Cancer
The National Childrens Cancer Society recommends raising childhood cancer awareness by asking your school to recognize the month, wear a gold ribbon on your lapel, writing the local newspaper editor about doing a story on childhood cancer, and to ask your local library to feature books about childhood cancer this month.
