It seems you can't go anywhere in October without being blinded by pink. The reason is that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink has become a recognizable symbol for the awareness of breast cancer and can be found on everything from products in stores to the jerseys of NFL teams. Pink ribbons are almost as common as pumpkins during October, but what most people do not know is that the month prior, September, is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and fewer know that gold is the designated color for this cause.
To be clear, this article is not to bash breast cancer awareness or complain of its prominence in any way. Awareness of all kinds of cancer is necessary and positive. But shouldn't a disease that kills more children than any other disease, including AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and diabetes combined, receive just as much awareness as breast cancer? Here're four reasons why there should be more pediatric cancer awareness, especially in September:
1. The shocking lack of funding for research
If you read nothing else in this article, read this: LESS THAN 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is directed to childhood cancer research (stbaldricks.org). Yes, 4% - as in a single-digit number.
2. Not rare, not fair.
The reason that the lack of funding for pediatric cancer research is so shocking is that this horrible disease is not rare in kids. Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer. One in eight of these kids will not survive (curesearch.org). This means way too many kids don't get to attend school and won't get to grow up and follow their dreams.
3. The treatment options that currently exist for kids aren't that great.
Most of the kids that do survive cancer deal with lifelong side effects from treatments, such as infertility, heart failure, and secondary cancers (curesearch.org). Funding needs to exist so that better treatment options can be developed.
4. There is a widespread lack of support for awareness.
One controversial issue with the fight for gold in September has been the Empire State Building's refusal to light up gold during this month. Last year, officials from the Empire State Building refused the request even after calls from government officials and health advocates (nydailynews.com). But this past August, a giant picture of Cecil the Lion was projected onto the the world-famous building (MSNBC.com). Yes, the awareness of the plight of endangered animals is an important cause, but what about the 40,000 children (curesearch.org) who undergo treatment for cancer each year? According to the Empire State Building Tower Lights Calendar, there are no current plans for gold in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September (esbnyc.com).
While these statistics are disturbing, they need to be put out there. Maybe if the public were more aware of the lack of funding and the toll this disease has on families, there would be more gold in September. My hope is that one day no parent will ever have to hear the words "Your child has cancer." But until then, this September, go gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
This article is written in memory of all the children and young adults who have lost their battle with cancer, especially my friends Maddy Justice and Sam Featherstone. To read their inspiring stories, visit keeponshining.net and samstrong.org.
