Lia Formica

Mrs. B
Mods 1-2
December 4, 2015
In the United States alone, there will be 10,380 children under the age of fifteen that will
be diagnosed with cancer (What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer?). Though this is
small in comparison to the wider population of adult cancer cases, it still means a dark time of
suffering for these young ones. The survival rate for childhood cancer has increased dramatically
over the years but continues to take its toll not only on the patient with the cancer but their
family as well. These children must go through harsh treatment in order to be cured and this
disease can continue to haunt them in the future. Ultimately, childhood cancer requires intense
treatment, leaves a lasting impression on the child, and must be continuously pursued to find a
permanent cure.
To begin, childhood cancer are commonly DNA changes in the cells; therefore, it does
not link strongly to the lifestyle or environment of the child (What Are the Differences between
Cancers in Adults and Children?). The percentage of all cancers diagnosed that is childhood
cancer is one percent (What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer?). Though this number
is astronomically small, it still means numerous children would have to receive harsh treatment
to eradicate the disease. In addition, 1,250 children are expected to die in 2015 due to cancer
(What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer?). Common forms of childhood cancer is
leukemia, cancer of the bone marrow or blood, neuroblastoma, cancer of nerve cells found in a
developing embryo or fetus, retinoblastoma, cancer of the eye, and osteosarcoma, bone cancer
("What Are the Most Common Types of Childhood Cancers?"). Cancer is the second largest cause

of death among children in the United States after accidents ("What Are the Key Statistics for
Childhood Cancer?"). Types of treatment that is used to combat this disease is surgery,

chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplants (National Cancer
Institute). Chemotherapy involves pumping chemical substances with anti-cancer agents in a
patient's body; these chemicals are very strong and can often result in hair loss (National Cancer
Institute). Immunotherapy is when doctors assist the immune system to be more equipped to
fight the cancer (National Cancer Institute). Fortunately, children have proved to respond better
with more resilience to chemotherapy and radiation therapy than adults ("What Are the
Differences between Cancers in Adults and Children?"). Despite this, and the fact these methods of

treatment are effective, it still is an unpleasant time for children to suffer through.
The survival rate for childhood cancer is currently at eighty percent chance of living a
five year life after cancer ("What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer?"). This has risen
thirty percent from the fifty percent five year survival rate in 1975 ("What Are the Key Statistics
for Childhood Cancer?"). Though this increase is extremely positive, it does not discriminate the

fact all childhood cancer survivors are in risk of developing health problems know as late effects.
Late effects is the general term for the cancer aftermath health issues; it can harm a childs organ,
tissue, or bones (National Cancer Institute). Treatments that can result in late effects is surgery,
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants (National Cancer Institute).
Furthermore, late effects can affect ones growth and development, feelings, actions, thinking,
learning, memory, social and psychological adjustment, and the risk of a second cancer (National
Cancer Institute). In fact, the most common death of cancer survivors is when the primary cancer
returns, another primary cancer forms, or heart or lung damage (National Cancer Institute). Even

after a child has been cured in cancer, they still must have check ups dedicated towards keeping a
close eye of any negative post-cancer effects for the rest of their lives.
Childhood cancer, though the statistics mentioned in previous paragraphs have been
directed for children in the United States of America, is a global issue. There are many
developing countries who are unprepared to children with cancer because of their limited
resources or doctors diagnose a patient too late in the cancer stages (World Health Organization).
Not only does childhood cancer affect the child with disease but impacts their friends and family.
It is a difficult time for the family, especially the parents since they have to witness their child
suffer through the side effect of the cancer along with the harsh treatments she may have to
endure. Childhood cancer also put strain on the relationship between the patient and their friends
because their friends may not know how to act around the one who has cancer. They may feel
uncomfortable and have a difficult time viewing their friend as still a kid instead of a poor victim
to cancer. The issue of this cancer can only get larger and kill more children if it is left
unaddressed. Doctors, their methods, and technology need to evolve faster than the cancer in
order to stop it. As reiterated before, childhood cancer only affects one percent of the overall
population of those diagnosed with cancer ("What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer?").
However, any efforts made to decrease the number of childhood cancer cases could save 1,250
children in a year which is a matter worth fighting for.

Works Cited

American Cancer Society. "Childhood Cancer." Global Cancer 2nd Edition (2011): 34-35.
American Cancer Society. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
CureSearch. "Childhood Cancer Statistics." CureSearch for Childrens Cancer. CureSearch,
2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
National Cancer Institute. "Childhood Cancers." National Cancer Institute. National Cancer
Institute, 13 May 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
National Cancer Institute. "Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer."National Cancer
Institute. National Cancer Institute, 30 Oct. 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
World Health Organization. "Children's Health and the Environment." Children and Cancer
(2009): n. pag. World Health Organization. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
"What Are the Differences between Cancers in Adults and Children?"American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"What Are the Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer?" American Cancer Society. American
Cancer Society, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"What Are the Most Common Types of Childhood Cancers?" American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.