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Know the Facts

Childhood Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in children today. Here are some other surprising facts:

  • Childhood cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in children. It kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined.
  • 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.
  • In the past 20 years, only three new cancer drugs have been approved for pediatric use. Children continue to receive toxic drugs intended for adults.
  • 95% of children diagnosed with cancer suffer long term and often life-threatening side effects, such as heart damage, chemo induced secondary cancer, lung damage, infertility, hearing loss, growth defects and many more.
  • Cancer symptoms in children include fever, swollen glands, anemia, bruises and infection They are often misdiagnosed and treated as other childhood illnesses.
  • Only 4% of federally funded cancer research is allocated to all types of pediatric cancer.
  • 80% of children have metastasized cancer at the time of their diagnosis. At diagnosis, only 20% of adults with cancer show evidence that the disease has spread or metastasized.
  • Nearly 16,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. That is the size of 2 average classrooms every single day, year after year.
  • Pharmaceutical companies fund over 50% of adult cancer research, but virtually nothing for kids.