Childhood Cancer Awareness Month By Chase Iwanejko

September is the start of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Back in 2012 President Barack Obama ordered a presidential proclamation, in the month of September. There for officially making September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is too aware the public about different cancers, and the challenges faced by the children and families affected by it. The cancer that they get is a lot more treatable than adult cancer. The most common types of childhood cancer would be leukemias, brain tumors, and lymphomas. The survival rate of childhood cancer is around 85% of children, and about 47 kids are diagnosed with childhood cancer every day. There are over 100 symptoms for the 12 major childhood cancers. About 9,550 children in the United States alone will end up getting diagnosed with childhood cancer. Most childhood cancers are found from taking a test for another disease. Childhood cancer symptoms can vary depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Some common symptoms include persistent fever or night sweets, unexplained weight loss or gain, enlarged lymph nodes, bone pain, headaches, seizures. Diagnosis typically involves a physical exam, blood tests, imaging studies (e,g,, x-rays, MRI, CT scans), and sometimes a biopsy. Treatment options include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Many forms of childhood cancer are highly treatable. Overall, the survival rate for children with cancer has improved significantly in recent years, with more than 80% of children surviving for at least 5 years. Childhood cancer is more common in boys than girls.  

Common types of cancer. Leukemia: The most common cancer in children, starting in the blood and bone marrow, most frequently as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: The second most common type, often starting in the lower parts of the brain, such as the cerebellum or brain stem. Lymphoma: cancers that begin in the immune system’s lymphocytes. Neuroblastoma: A cancer of the immature nerve cells, most common in babies and young children under five, often starting in the belly. Wilms Tumor: A type of kidney cancer usually found in children aged three to four years old, with a common initial sign being a lump or swelling in the belly. 

While there is no definitive way to prevent childhood cancer, certain measures may reduce the risk, such as: maintaining a healthy lifestyle, seeking medical attention promptly for any unusual symptoms, getting vaccinated against certain infections, limiting exposure to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke. Because the causes are not usually lifestyle-related, there are known ways to prevent childhood cancers.