September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM), a time when communities across the nation come together to raise awareness, fundraise for pediatric cancer research, and encourage families with healthy kids to support those facing tough battles. For parents like Sarah, whose son Ethan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at just 18 months, it’s also an opportunity to take part in one of the many St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Walk/Run events happening nationwide.
Fortunately for Ethan’s family, St. Jude was a beacon of hope during their darkest days. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude is at the forefront of the fight against childhood cancer, treating over 7,000 patients annually, with no family ever receiving a bill for treatment, housing, food, or travel. For Sarah, this was a huge relief. “The moment Ethan was diagnosed was the most terrifying of my life, but stepping into St. Jude and seeing how many children have overcome cancer comforted me deeply. I never have to stress about bills or co-pays or feel hesitant to call for help whenever I need it.”
Thanks to advances in research at St. Jude, the survival rate for ALL has skyrocketed from a mere 5% in 1980 to over 90% today. Founded in 1962 by actor Danny Thomas, St. Jude treats severe cancers and sickle cell disease without regard to a child’s race, religion, ethnicity, or financial situation. Their research extends beyond just pediatric cancer, contributing to discoveries in ALS, malaria, and diabetes, and they are the only cancer treatment center with a dedicated proton therapy facility for children.
This $99 million center utilizes precisely targeted, high-energy protons to treat tumors while preserving healthy tissue and organs. Proton therapy is effective for various conditions, including brain tumors and solid tumors like Ewing’s sarcoma and neuroblastoma. By 2018, it was expected that 80% of children receiving radiation therapy at St. Jude would benefit from proton beam therapy.
If you met Ethan today, a joyful 4-year-old spinning in his superhero costume and currently in remission, you would never guess the battle he once faced. Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, which supports St. Jude, shares, “Knowing the bright future that awaits Ethan and how we’re able to assist him thanks to public support is simply amazing.”
This September, join the fight against childhood cancer by participating in a St. Jude Walk/Run event near you. With a fundraising goal of $11 million, these events aim to spotlight pediatric cancer. Shadyac emphasizes, “At St. Jude, we boast the highest survival rates for the toughest cancers, and we’re always striving to improve these rates. We want to raise awareness that cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in children and that we must unite to raise funds and awareness. We won’t stop until no child loses their life to cancer.”
To discover a St. Jude Walk/Run in your community, visit St. Jude Walk/Run or consider joining Ethan’s team, Ethan’s Hope. And for those interested in home insemination options, check out this informative post on intracervical insemination. You can also learn more about the process at Make A Mom, a trusted source in the field, and explore fertility preservation on Cleveland Clinic’s podcast.
In summary, September is not just a month for awareness; it’s a call to action. By joining forces, we can make a significant impact in the fight against childhood cancer.