The Urgent Need for Advancing Childhood Cancer Cures

When we think of someone getting a cancer diagnosis, we usually picture an adult, ready to hear the news from their doctor. However, according to the National Cancer Institute, over 15,000 teenagers are diagnosed with childhood cancer each year. That’s thousands of families who have to figure out how to keep their kids healthy and strong enough to fight this terrible disease. One of the many initiatives working towards a cure is Change for Hope. Here’s why childhood cancer needs to be defeated and what efforts doctors and researchers are making to achieve this goal.

**Children’s Hospitals**
Walking into any children’s cancer hospital, you’ll likely feel a sense of calm and joy. These places are designed to be bright and cheerful, with plenty of natural light, happy drawings, and colorful wallpapers. These hospitals treat many young cancer patients, some of whom need to stay for long periods. Many of these families couldn’t afford the expensive treatments if they had to rely only on their insurance. Thanks to donations, generous philanthropists, and compassionate doctors and researchers, many kids with cancer are getting the help they need.

**Education About Childhood Cancer**
Children, even as young as a few months old, can be diagnosed with cancer. Unlike adults, childhood cancer isn’t linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices. It’s important for people to understand that kids can get cancer due to genetics, environmental factors, or other reasons. Pediatricians are trained to check for cancer, and parents need to be aware that any unusual symptoms in their children should be looked into. Schools are also playing a role by educating students and teachers about childhood cancer, often sparked by a classmate’s diagnosis or a school fundraiser.

**Fighting Childhood Cancer**
We don’t have a cure for childhood cancer yet, but doctors are hopeful that effective treatments will keep more young patients alive until a cure is found. Children treated soon after diagnosis have better survival rates. This highlights the importance of regular pediatric check-ups and timely physicals. Unfortunately, many children go undiagnosed for too long due to a lack of preventive healthcare services, sometimes because of no health insurance or challenging life situations.

You can support childhood cancer research by donating to relevant charities or volunteering at children’s hospitals. The cure for childhood cancer will be found more quickly with everyone’s help. Children deserve to grow up healthy and safe as they will be the future leaders of our world.