September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday.
In 2012, President Obama proclaimed September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to bring awareness to pediatric cancer, which remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14.
Go Gold® during September – #ShowYourGold by sharing a picture while wearing gold. The gold color and a gold ribbon are symbols for cancer affecting children.
This month, and throughout the year, we honor the children currently battling cancer, the families who love them, the clinicians and other caregivers treating them, the survivors of childhood cancer, the children who lost their lives to childhood cancer, and the researchers working to conquer childhood cancer.
What is Childhood Cancer?
Childhood or pediatric cancer describes cancers that occur among children and adolescents. Childhood cancers differ from adult cancers in the way they grow and spread, how they are treated, and how they respond to treatment.
What causes cancer in children?
Most childhood cancers are the result of DNA changes that happen early in the child’s life, sometimes even before birth. Every time a cell divides into two new cells, it must copy its DNA. This process isn’t perfect, and errors sometimes occur, especially when the cells are growing quickly. Most of the time, these errors can be corrected by the cell. But when the genetic errors are so extensive that the cell cannot function normally, special genes order that the cell die for the good of the body as a whole.
When these corrections are not made, or when a diseased cell fails to self-destruct, cell growth and division can begin to break free of their constraints to become cancer cells.
What Can You Do?
Take Action
Visit Children’s Cancer Cause Action Center to find an issue you’re passionate about and send a letter to your Members of Congress using our quick and simple tool.
Host an Awareness Event
September is a great time to have a fundraiser. Really, any time of the year is a great time… Choose from ACCO’s two signature events or create your own fundraiser:
- PJammin® for Kids with Cancer: It’s simple – wear your pajamas to school or work in exchange for donations! From a school to a small business or a big corporate office, you can host a PJammin event anywhere! Learn more and register here.
- Go Gold® for Kids with Cancer: Organizing a Go Gold® event in your community, school or workplace. Best part is, you can Go Gold however you want! Check out our event ideas and register here.
Share Your Story
Donate
The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) relies on the generosity of people like you to provide funds that will offer the support, information, and services to families going through one of the toughest fights of their life. With your donation we can reach more families to ensure they are not alone. Donate Here
Childhood Cancer – Big Dreams
Every kid dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation has taken the opportunity to weave interviews with cancer patients, survivors, doctors (like Damon Reed, our lead researcher), and our National Pediatric Cancer Foundation National Spokesperson. Jesse Palmer to explain the importance of finding a faster cure.