Gimme a "C"

Cancer Statistics:
One in every 330 Americans will develop cancer by the age of 20.

On average 12,500 children and teens will be diagnosed with some form of
cancer each year in this country.

Of those, almost 3,000 will die.

In the U.S., about 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every weekday.

The incidence of childhood cancer has increased every year for the last 25
years.

This year 14,000 children will be diagnosed.

Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of
children will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

Currently there is 30-40,000 children being treated with cancer. It strikes
children from all ethnic backgrounds and every level of financial income.

Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more
than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combinned.

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer found in infants, almost double that of
leukemia and the most common extra-cranial solid tumor found in children. There is
very little known about why neuroblastoma occurs, or about what factors increase
the risk for occurrence. It is an aggressive cancer of the sympathetic nervous
system, a nerve network throughout the body which carries messages from the
brain. Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that manifests as a lump or mass in the
abdomen, around the spinal cord, or in the chest, neck, or pelvis. Diagnosis can be
complicated. It has been called the “great masquerader” because its symptoms
mimic so many other diseases.

Every 16 hours a child with neuroblastoma dies.

There is no known cure.

The average age at diagnosis is two years old.

Nearly 70% of those children first diagnosed, have disease that has already
metastasized or spread to other parts of the body.

It accounts for 8% of all childhood cancer, but 15% of all the childhood cancer
deaths.

Nearly 70% of those children first diagnosed, have disease that has already
metastasized or spread to other parts of the body. The average age at
diagnosis is two years old.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive solid tumor cancer that strikes mainly young
children and has less than a 30% chance of survival when evidence at
diagnosis shows that the disease has spread.1

Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer found in infants, almost double
that of leukemia, and the most common solid tumor cancer in children, second
only to brain tumors. Neuroblastoma is the third most prevalent pediatric
cancer and has less than a 30% chance of survival when evidence at
diagnoses shows that the disease has spread.

Through awareness and research, other forms of pediatric cancer have made great
strides in being able to claim 80% to 90% "cure" rates. Neuroblastoma cannot
make that claim. The complexity of the disease has baffled researchers for decades.
There is no known cause or cure for Neuroblastoma.

Shocking Facts about Cancer Research Funding

In the U.S. almost 3,000 children do not survive cancer each year.

Over the past two decades, only ONE new cancer drug has been approved
for pediatric use.

Only 3% of the National Cancer Institute Budget goes toward Pediatric
Cancer Research.

September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, which nationally goes
unrecognized.

The federal government recently cut the budget for Childhood Cancer
Research.

Currently there are between 30 - 40,000 children undergoing cancer
treatment in the U.S.

Young patients often have a more advanced stage of cancer when first
diagnosed. Approximately 20% of adults with cancer show evidence the
disease has spread, yet almost 80% of children show that the cancer has
spread at diagnosis.

Today, up to 75% of the children with cancer can be cured, yet some forms of
childhood cancer have proven so resistant to treatment that, in spite of
research, a cure is illusive.

As a nation, we spend over $14 BILLION per year on the space program, but
only $35MILLION on Childhood Cancer Research each year.

There are 15 children diagnosed with cancer for every one child diagnosed
with pediatric AIDS. Yet, the U.S. invests approximately $595,000 for
research per victim of pediatric AIDS and only $20,000 for each victim of
childhood cancer.

The largest children’s oncology group in North America which supports the
clinical and biological research at over 200 participating institutions and
treats about 90% of the children with received less than half of its requested
budget from the federal government this year.

The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget for 2003 was $4.6
billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12%, prostate cancer received 7%,
and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined received less than 3%.

Research funds are scarce as most money is diverted to well-publicized adult
forms of cancer, such as breast and prostate.

In 2005, the American Cancer Society provided only 2.5% of funded grants,
or 1.85% of dollars spent on research to pediatric cancer.

Neuroblastoma accounts for 7-10% of all childhood cancers and well over
15% of the deaths; and yet neuroblastoma is only designated to receive 5%
of the research dollars from a national pediatric cancer fundraising initiative

For every dollar received through federal grants and private donations by
this very organization less than $.03 goes towards funding neuroblastoma
research grants, awards, and fellowships.

Source www.curesearch.org

There are tons and tons of other organizations named in the honor of loved ones who
raise/support awareness towards childhood cancer. Research your organizations before
you donate. Whether it be for "courage" support or any other devastating illness, know
where your money goes. You can make a difference!
Cancer Facts
Copyright 2009. Isaac's Journey "where HOPE begins" Foundation. All Rights Reserved.