September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, where organizations across the globe bring attention to the burden that too many have to carry: pediatric cancer. People “Go Gold” this month to show support in honor of the gold ribbon that represents childhood cancer. As September comes to an end, reflecting on what this month entails is essential. People post on social media, host events, donate to research funds, and wear the gold ribbon. These efforts go a long way and they truly do make a difference in bringing awareness to this disgusting disease. But unfortunately none of this will ever be enough to find a cure.
There are hundreds of types of cancer. Not a single one of them has a cure. The only way to be cured of cancer is through treatments. There are various ways to treat cancer. Surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, clinical trials, and other medical treatments. These are all highly invasive, causing acute and chronic side effects to the body. For doctors and scientists to research in hopes of finding a cure, they require tremendous amounts of funds. The National Cancer Institute is a government agency dedicated to this. It was given a $6.44 billion budget in 2020. Only about 250 million dollars of that budget was dedicated to all types of pediatric cancer. That is only 4%.
Only 4% of funds are for all children battling brain cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and the list continues. Do other types of cancer affecting adults also need funding? Of course. There is a lack of funding dedicated to the NCI overall. But our children are our future. Our children are the ones who will grow up to be doctors, nurses, and scientists, and ultimately they will be the ones to find us the cure. Everyday at least 43 children are diagnosed with cancer. The number of diagnosis’s is on a steady rise. We must save our children.
Federal tax money goes towards a countless number of spending areas. A few of the examples are highlighted in the above chart. Cancer impacts our society far more than a submarine or a spaceship ever will. Throughout history, legislation has made very few strides toward research for a cure, and politicians rarely prioritize this disease. Many people choose to ignore this crisis because it does not affect them.
It is easy to ignore the many tragedies in the world. Wars, starvation, climate change, and discrimination often seem like issues too big to take on. But advocating and using your voice can impact many people, creating a ripple effect. Talking about topics that can be hard to talk about is what makes real change.
Cancer is easy to ignore until it comes into your life somehow. It does not discriminate. It is the biggest bully known to mankind. This battle for a cure is nowhere near an end. But we will get a few steps closer with more than 4% funding, spreading awareness, and showing a little more compassion.
This post is dedicated to Ella Bresee (2007-2022). Ella lost her battle with brain cancer this month. If we all lived like Ella, the world would be much better. Fly high, angel.
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/guide/cure-for-cancer
https://littlewarrior.org/blog/morethan4-the-state-of-pediatric-cancer-funding-in-the-us
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