The U.S. has made countless strides in the field of biotechnology. Research and innovation are cornerstones of our nation’s development and global socio-economic status. In fact, we are known for providing the best health care in the world. However, there are still a number of things to keep on working towards, like a cure for cancer. This disease, characterized by unregulated cell division that wreaks havoc on the human body, affects every aspect of an individual’s life, as well as, that of their loved ones. This emotional toll is accompanied by a financial drain on a family’s pocket. Together they form a large and almost impossible obstacle to overcome.

Table 1: National Costs for Cancer Care in 2010 in Billions of Dollars by Cancer Site*

National Cancer Institute. (2011, February 18). The Cost of Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from  http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/servingpeople/cancer-statistics/costofcancer

Cancer targets everyone and anyone, including one of our most vulnerable groups—children. Last September, President Barack Obama declared it National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.³ This declaration conveys the importance of cancer research in our country. Every year, about 13,500 parents will be confronted with the grueling reality that their child has been diagnosed with cancer.¹ It claims the lives of more children than AIDS, asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined.⁴ In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14.⁵ The most common of childhood cancers are leaukemias and brain tumors. The rate of incidence for leukemia among children has stayed relatively constant at 4.6 cases per 100,000 children since 1985. However, the incidence of brain tumors has increased from 2.3 to 3.2 cases per 100,000 children from 1975 to 2004. This may due to improvements in technology that visualize brain tumors, and therefore have made it possible for better diagnoses. In addition, the classification of tumors has changed, such that tumors that used to be considered benign are now considered malignant.⁵ Overall, technology has allowed medicine to better detect and diagnose cancer.

Although scientific innovation has paved the way for kids to have the best fighting chance, there is still an epidemic. 36 children are diagnosed with cancer every day. And one out of five of these children’s lives are claimed by cancer. On average, children get diagnosed at age six. Each year, over 40,000 children are treated for cancer. Unfortunately even if you survive cancer, there are late-effects for three out of five cancer survivors. These consequences include: heart failure, infertility, and secondary cancers.¹ Cancer has both immediate and long-term effects that are detrimental to the health of our people.

What are we as a nation doing about it? Government has taken some measures. For example, Congress passed the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act in July 2008, which appropriates $150 million over the span of five year to increase funding for pediatric cancer research, awareness and the creation of the national childhood cancer research registry.² The National Cancer Institute funds cancer research, although only 4% of their budget goes towards pediatric funding. And this is significant since half of all chemotherapies used for children’s cancers are 25 years old.⁴ There are many organizations and institutions involved in the fight against cancer. One of the major ones is the Children’s Oncology Group, which treats 90% of all children with cancer.² There are many more that contribute to this cause by funding research, and supporting families in crisis. You can get involved too. All it takes is the desire to help.

The following is a list of Organizations dedicated to this plight³:

CURE Childhood Cancer

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Have a Heart Children’s Cancer Society

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer

American Childhood Cancer Organization

Children’s Cancer Research Fund

Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

~JeanPierre Coaquira

Works Cited:

1. 1.     Children’s Oncology Group. (n.d.). What is Cancer? Children’s Oncology Group. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from http://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/index.php/patients-and-families
2. 2.     Cure Search for Children’s Cancer. (2009, August 25). Congress and Several States Proclaim September 12 to Remember the Thousands of Children, Families and Caregivers Touched by Childhood Cancer. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from http://www.curesearch.org/ArticleView2.aspx?id=7750&l=&c=
3. 3.     Huff Post Impact. (2011, September 19). How You Can Help: National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2011. Huff Post Impact. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/19/how-you-can-help-national_n_966814.html
4. 4.     Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. (2010). Childhood Cancer Stats. Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. Retrieved December 4, 2011, from http://www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org/site/c.5oIDJRPyGfISF/b.6874173/k.4BBE/Childhood_Cancer_Stats.htm
5. 5.     National Cancer Institute. (2008, January 10). Childhood Cancers. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/childhood