Pediatric cancer is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart. Children are my pride and joy, which is why I cannot wait to become a teacher and share the experience with them. Some people call them brats, but I look at is as there are probably issues that are causing this child to act like a “brat” that people may not know. But back to pediatric cancer. So many of these children keep fighting every day and they do it with a smile on their face. This is something that should be recognized. By “this” I mean their perseverance, bravery, and their positive attitude. There’s a saying, “cancer doesn’t take a day off so why would we?” I believe in this statement 100%. I feel that we are getting closer and closer every day to finding a cure and saving millions of lives and then we get to see these children smile for real and not just putting on a brave face. Probably almost all of us know a child with pediatric cancer. There are 16 major types of childhood cancer and over 100 sub types (Cancer facts). Here are some interesting facts that you may not know about pediatric cancer:

• Cancer is the number one leading cause of death in children
• About 35% of children diagnosed with cancer die within 30 years of diagnosis.
• About 17% of children diagnosed will die within 5 years of diagnosis.
• “Those that survive the five years have an eight times greater mortality rate due to the increased risk of liver and heart disease and increased risk for reoccurrence of the original cancer or of a secondary cancer. (Cancer facts)”
• Prostate cancer receives more funding than pediatric cancer.

These statistics are taken right from http://www.childhoodcancerinternational.org/8-reasons-why-childhood-cancer-should-be-a-global-child-health-priority/. Not the whole article is used due to word limits for this article. Only bits and pieces from his website were used.

1. Statistics do not tell the whole story.

“The global estimate of 175,000–250,000 new childhood cancer cases annually represents a recognized substantial underestimate. This can be attributed to the lack of cancer registries in a large majority of LMICs (low middle income countries), prevalent under diagnosis, misdiagnosis and/or under‐registration of LMIC children with cancer.”

2. Childhood cancer does not have borders.

“As is already the case in high‐income countries (HICs), in a growing number of middle income countries (MICs), cancer represents the leading cause of non‐ accidental death among children and adolescents. While childhood mortality due to infectious diseases has been significantly reduced worldwide, deaths due to childhood cancer are increasing.”

3. Childhood Cancer is curable, but ‐ there is significant inequity and disparity in survival rates across countries and within continents.

“Childhood cancer is considered a modern day “miracle” by health circles. More than 70% of childhood cancer is now curable with modern therapy. Overall, this is an impressive increase since the mid‐1970s, when the 5‐ year survival rate was approximately 60%. Still, survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer and factors such as the status of a country’s health system infrastructure, medical culture and socioeconomic conditions. In LMIC, where access to health care is limited and very challenging, survival rates are as low as 10‐20% meaning that only 1‐2 children out of 10 who are diagnosed with cancer and receive treatment will survive.”

4. One death is too many.

“Too many children and adolescents still die of cancer worldwide. Based on current limited statistics – one child dies of cancer every three minutes. Effective treatments for certain types of cancer do not yet exist in many LMICs and even in some developed countries. While cancer in children is but a fraction of the global cancer burden, for children and their families, it is the difference between life and death.”

5. Children are our future and deserve the chance to live to the full.

“Every child lost is an irreplaceable contributor to the future of their community and country. Healthy children and adolescents contribute to productive and sustainable communities and progressive nations. Every child lost is an irreplaceable piece of the future. We lose the gifts of their unique personalities, talents and potential contributions to our families, communities and nation. For every child that dies of cancer, the world loses 71 years of life.”

6. No family should go bankrupt, lose their assets, become impoverished or go deeper into poverty when a child gets sick with cancer.

“Because no child nor family should face cancer alone. No family should ever have to choose between putting food in the table, sending a child to school or seeking treatment for a child with cancer. Unfortunately, because of the catastrophic costs of childhood cancer treatment and medicines, these are the difficult choices families of children with cancer often have to make in LMICs. In developed countries, families of children with cancer, who are underinsured or have no insurance also face this same burden.”

7. Access to better care, affordable good quality medications and healthcare coverage can help stop the dying.

“Carefully implemented childhood cancer programs in LMICs have documented improvements in survival rate of 30%, within less than a decade. Another effective strategy is that of “twinning programs”.”

8. Access to the best possible care for children with cancer is their human right, and not just a privilege.

“Every child, anywhere in the world, deserve the best possible treatment and care. Thirty years ago a call for Health for All was made by the UN. Despite this, childhood cancer continues to be a neglected and marginalized disease. A child with cancer is no less (nor more) important than a child with malaria, measles, tuberculosis, HIV, malnutrition, or any other life‐threatening illness that disproportionately affects children in LMIC. All sick children deserve our full efforts to prolong and improve the quality of their lives.”

These reasons are why we should care and why we should do something and help in any way we can.

"Cancer Facts - The Truth 365." The Truth 365. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.