Dear Editor:
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and for the 1,500 children and teens diagnosed with cancer each year, it is an important time for us all to consider what we can do to help children live long, healthy lives.
A cancer diagnosis can be devastating for anyone, but it is particularly incomprehensible when a child is facing cancer. While childhood cancers account for less than one percent of all cancers diagnosed in Canada, they take a significant toll on Canadian families. Childhood cancer is the number one cause of disease-related death in Canadian children past infancy and for those children who survive their diagnosis, 2 out of every 3 will suffer long-term side effects from their treatment.
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, there is a lot to cope with. Organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society can provide reliable information through the Cancer Information Service, peer support for parents through a variety of programs and transportation to treatment through Wheels of Hope. But the reality is a childhood cancer diagnosis is life-altering and, simply, one child with cancer is one too many.
The good news is progress has been made and continues to be made every day. In the 1980s, the five-year survival rate for childhood cancer was 71 percent. Today, this has risen to 83 percent because of investments in research that have led to more effective diagnoses and treatment. Thanks to donors to the Canadian Cancer Society, we have invested more than $50 million in the last 15 years, supporting more than 170 research projects to help children survive cancer and thrive well beyond. A recent example is Dr. Rod Rassekh and Dr. Colin Ross who developed a genetic test to predict which children are likely to sustain heart damage as a result of their chemotherapy treatment. By identifying these at-risk children, doctors can switch them to a safer chemotherapy drug that will effectively treat their cancer and improve their long-term heart health.
We are grateful for the ongoing support from our community and partners in addressing all cancers, including childhood cancer. We have made strides but there is much more work to do and we need your help. I encourage you to get involved through volunteering or supporting our Gifts for the Cure aimed at investing in game-changing research and support programs for children with cancer and their families. Together we can make a difference. For more information, please visit cancer.ca.
Roger Martin, Manager, Renfrew County Community Office
Canadian Cancer Society
