Cancer. The word alone makes us shift in discomfort and compels us to immediately redirect our thoughts away, towards words and thoughts that strike less fear, unless…. Unless cancer has become more than a word on our tongues and in our lives.
Cancer. Child. Childhood Cancer. The absolute worst modifier I can think of for that dreaded word “cancer.” And yet, it is the modifier that together with “cancer” represents the reality of approximately 12,400 children and their families each year in the U.S. Today, cancer is the most common cause of death by disease for children and adolescents in the U.S.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The ribbon color is GOLD. How many gold ribbons have you seen? They are difficult to see through all the Pink so spread the word. No one wants or deserves cancer, least of all our precious children.
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46 children are diagnosed with cancer every single weekday. I am a proud founding member of the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave. I lost my daughter in 2007 to a brain tumor, and I joined together with 45 other women to shave our heads in LA last year, to raise awareness for childhood cancer and to raise funds for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. We also appeared on the Stand Up To Cancer live telethon. A new team of 46 mothers of children with cancer will be shaving their heads this Wednesday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C. Please visit http://46mommas.com for more information! Thank you so much for letting your readers know that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!
September 17, 2011 - 10:04amThis Comment
Hello Angelica,
I also am so sorry for your family's loss. I've lost a lot of loved one's to cancer. All of my sisters have had breast cancer. So did my mom. Now my mom has lymphoma. My dad died from pancreatic cancer. And as painful as all cancers are, I cannot imagine a more painful cancer experience than that of a child. As Pat points out, there are so many unrecognized cancers that do not get the attention they deserve, but ensuring our children get to live to adulthood seems especially deserving of our attention and resources.
Thanks for writing,
September 13, 2011 - 6:08amSusan
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Hello Pat,
September 13, 2011 - 6:01amYou said it! And said it well. It is because breast cancer has become a "pink retail cause" that the other forms of cancer are so ignored. Viewing anything and everything as an excuse for a marketing campaign is unfortunately the only way issues get attention in our society. Fortunately, we are all so much more multi-dimensional than the media or marketing campaigns would suggest.
Thanks for the powerful comment!
Susan
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Susan - thank you for sharing!!! You are right nobody deserves cancer and seeing it happen to our children is heart breaking. My nephew lost his battle to leukemia three years ago and every day we pray for a cure, so that no other child has to suffer like he did.
September 12, 2011 - 1:57pmThis Comment
Angelica,
September 12, 2011 - 2:06pmI'm so sorry for your loss. Hearing things like that breaks my heart.
I wish you the absolute best!
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September is the awareness month for many cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, ovarian, gynecologic, prostate and perhaps others. All of these cancers impact people of all ages. In my community of Phoenix, Arizona the media started hyping pink products and events on September 1, and I have no doubt that all of the other cancers collectively will get less exposure than the pink retail causes. In the meantime the real issues that impact cancer patients here on a daily basis are ignored. It's past time to recognize the real needs of all cancer patients and support patients in meaningful ways instead of just viewing cancer as an excuse for a marketing campaign aimed at women.
September 12, 2011 - 1:06pmThis Comment
Good for you, and I hope you shared with others your reason for wearing gold. Pink is broadcast 24/7. It's up to us to broadcast the gold.
September 12, 2011 - 8:33amThanks for sharing,
Susan
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No, thank you!
September 12, 2011 - 8:38amI will be sure to spread the word!
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I agree. I wore gold yesterday :). I had a friend in highschool who had leukemia, but his baby brothers cord blood saved his life.
September 12, 2011 - 8:08amThis Comment