It’s finally September. We get a first taste of fall, school is in full swing, and stores replace tank tops with sweaters. September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Most people aren’t aware, though. That’s why I am writing this blog. I’ll do a quick recap on me before I started ranting too much. Here we go.

At 15-years-old I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Colon cancer is typically found in adult males. There’s a one-in-a-million chance for someone under 21 to be diagnosed with it. My cancer has spread to my liver and lungs. Since then, I’ve had 28 rounds of radiation, 6 surgeries, over 30 rounds of chemo, and here I am, 2 ½ years later, still facing more chemo. I got a short break this past February-May while we watched to see if the last few spots in my lungs were really dead. Surprise: they weren’t.

Though I’ve been battling an adult cancer, I’ve been treated at a children’s hospital. I think if my family hadn’t chosen this route, my perspective would be very different. I wouldn’t have met all the incredible doctors, nurses, and staff at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children. I wouldn’t have a multitude of Disney Princess bandaids at my disposal. I wouldn’t know that skating on an IV pole is, in fact, possible. And I wouldn’t have learned about the villain that is childhood cancer.

Here’s a well-known fact: I don’t like cancer. I don’t like that little girls don’t know the thrill of having their hair braided because all they’ve ever known are bald heads and wigs. I don’t like seeing a little kid in the cancer center one month, and then hearing of his funeral arrangements the next. I don’t like hearing a mother say her four-year-old daughter ask if she was going to die. Cancer is a vicious beast. This monster doesn’t hide under beds or live in closets. It isn’t a thing of nightmares or Disney movies. This creature is very real for kids and adults. It lives inside, hiding while it grows and strengthens. The only weapons to fight it are also potentially (and usually) harmful to the victim.

So many strides have been made for better treatments of adult cancers. Sadly, that can’t be said for childhood cancers. Childhood cancers are considered “rare”, even though cancer is the #1 disease killer in children. Over 15,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and 2,500 of those lives are lost every year. 17% of children will die within 5 years of diagnosis. Of the children that survive 5 years from diagnosis, 18% will die within 30 years of diagnosis. And get this: there are a potential 71 years of life lost in children with cancer compared to the 17 potential years lost in an adult with cancer. These numbers aren’t enough to attract funding from private industry, since the American Cancer Society only designates one penny for every dollar to go to childhood cancer research funding. The task of funding research lies fully with the tax-payer funded National Cancer Institute. Only 4% of NCI funding is directed to childhood cancer. And then that 4% is divided up among the 16 major types of childhood cancer and over 100 sub-groups. Then you’re merely left with pocket change.

Instead of trying to explain more of these statistics myself, I’ll just insert these from thetruth365.com: “For 2014, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) budget is $4.9 billion. It is anticipated that childhood cancer will receive 4% of that sum or $195 million. (7) Prostate cancer (patient average age at diagnosis, 66 years), receives more research funding from NCI than all childhood cancers (patient average age at diagnosis, 6 years). (7)(1)” (Taken from https://www.thetruth365.org/cancer-facts/)

If you divided that $195 million by the 16 main groups of cancer (not forgetting those 100+ sub-groups) you have about 12 million dollars per cancer type. I’ve never been great at The Price is Right but I have enough common sense to know that 12 million dollars is not a lot in the realm of research funding.

Childhood Cancer Awareness month falls right before Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is October. And every year, childhood cancer is overshadowed. Teams in the NFL go all out with pink cleats and wristbands. But how often do you see them wear gold cleats or wristbands? Stores have campaigns where you can round up for breast cancer research. How often are you asked to round up for childhood cancer research?

I am by no means saying that we shouldn’t fund adult cancer research. I love being able to support all the women I know who have battled breast cancer. And I was diagnosed with a very common adult cancer that is now incredibly treatable because of that research and funding. What I am saying is that we cannot allow our children to continue to suffer while so little is being done to help them. Since childhood cancer is “rare”, most of us do not have direct encounters with childhood cancer. That’s why most people aren’t aware of the injustices towards children when it comes to the treatment of their life-threatening illness. But if you’re reading this, now you are aware. And you have the chance to make a difference. My best advice is to check out https://www.thetruth365.org . They have lots of resources and steps towards making a difference.

Thank you for supporting me and reading this blog. I know this one is long, but this is a cause near and dear to my heart. Please feel free to message me if you want to know more. Wear gold this month to support children with cancer and help spread the word that these kids are worth #MoreThan4.