Go Gray in May
It’s hard to believe that next week marks the first day of June. My kids start summer break next week, and we all know Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, opening up pools and water parks. But did you know that May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month? As this month comes to an end, I thought I would share some of the facts and statistics that I’ve learned while navigating Ian’s brain tumor journey.
Brain tumors are some of the hardest cancers to treat. As our oncologist explained it to us, your body is designed to protect the brain. Protect it from bacteria and viruses that would otherwise make you sick. This is no different with chemotherapy. A foreign thing is entering your body. And while it’s meant to save you, it is deadly when given toxic amounts. It’s literal poison. When patients are given chemotherapy for brain tumors, only a small percentage of that is actually getting where it needs to go: the brain. The rest of your body takes the brunt of it. Radiation treatment is a common option, but this is also harmful to your body, and like chemo, can cause future health problems down the line. Radiation in particular can actually cause the mutations to mutate further, causing cancer to come back elsewhere, and often much more aggressively.
You often hear that childhood cancer is “rare.” But each DAY, 47 children are diagnosed with Cancer in the United States. And approximately 1,800 children will die as a result of this disease every year. That’s too many kids. Our kids deserve better. They deserve to be KIDS.
If that wasn’t enough, nearly 5,000 children will be diagnosed with a brain tumor this year. And more than 2/3 of that number will experience long-term side effects as a result. And while I will continue to advocate for funding and research on all pediatric cancers, the truth is that only 4% of all funding goes towards finding cures for our kids. And get this: that 4% is ALL types of pediatric cancer. That means it’s going to research for brain tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, bone, tissue, ALL OF IT. Our kids are worth more than 4%. Kids should not be dying. Parents should not be burying their children. Our kids are #MoreThan4.
Help me spread awareness, not just on brain tumors, but all pediatric cancers. Check out my sources below to see some of my favorite childhood cancer foundations. Donate if you can. Share their posts. Share this post. The first step to change is having the conversation. Let’s talk about it.
Sources:
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation