Every three minutes, somewhere in the world a family hears the devastating words that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization,15,780 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Approximately 1/4 of them will not survive the disease. The month of September is nationally recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a month in which families, research groups and charities raise awareness for the leading cause of death by disease among children. This cause is very near and dear to my heart because at the age of fourteen, my sister was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor, a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys. She was diagnosed on November 19, 2014, and received surgery to remove the tumor along with her left kidney on November 22nd. In December of that same year she underwent port placement surgery so that she could start receiving chemotherapy. After a grueling 4 months, she received her last chemo treatment in April 2015. Through my sister's battle with cancer my family gained strength we didn't even knew we had. We received support from our friends, extended family and community, and my sister was given the opportunity to share her testimony on various occasions. She also got to participate in Make-A-Wish, earning a trip for her 15th birthday to meet Ariana Grande and see her in concert. Even though my sister is now cancer free, we still have to take extreme caution when it comes to her health.
Though my sister's story is inspiring, no family should have to live with the pain and grief that is cancer. No child should be hindered from playing their favorite sport or participating in choir because they are going through chemotherapy. No child should have to miss school on countless occasions due to doctor's appointments, surgeries, and check-ups. So how do we prevent this from happening any longer? Awareness, fund-raising, donation to cancer research, and more awareness. I knew little to nothing of cancer's awful affects on a person and their family until I got to high school. I was surprised and saddened to see so many students' lives tragically altered by this disease. I always thought of it as something far away, something that only happens in movies, or TV shows, or to other people. But then it happened to my sister. My family had no idea that she had a tumor growing inside her, nor how long it had been there. This is why awareness is so important. People generally think that disaster is something that happens to other people-- until it happens to someone you know.
However, childhood cancer can be cured; it doesn't have to take any more precious lives than it already has -- it can be defeated. If you or someone you love has been affected by cancer, I'm sure you know the pain and suffering that this disease inflicts on a person. But if we, as a nation, come together against cancer, it can be eradicated. Though it may take time, any effort in the fight against cancer is worth putting forth. Children are the future. We must take action in making sure that future is as bright and cancer free as it can be.
To find out more information on childhood cancer and how you can help, please visit www.acco.org, www.childrenscancer.org, or www.alexslemonade.org. Stay strong and #gogold.
