pediatric cancer facts
Childhood cancer does not just happen in the movies or to "other people"
Average age a child is diagnosed with cancer is eight.
Children have done nothing to cause their cancer. They do not have "unhealthy lifestyles". They do not smoke cigarettes. They do not lack exercise. Children are the most vulnerable and innocent cancer victims.
The Medicines
SCIENCE CAN BEAT CHILDHOOD CANCER
Survival rates have increased from 58% in the mid 1970s to 85% today. There are ~500,000 pediatric cancer survivors living in the United States right now.
THE GAP IS STILL ENORMOUS
Since 1950, ~60 new cancer drugs were developed for 85 pediatric cancer indications. However, since 2020, the FDA has approved ~90 new cancer drugs with over 450 indications for cancer. Progress for children remains limited.
While today's medicines are better than ever, there are new classes of cancer fighting therapies on the horizon. They cannot come quick enough.
In the meantime, cancer treatment involves debilitating chemotherapy, radiation and surgery that may leave survivors with life-long challenges.
The Patients
Every year, cancer changes the lives of 15,000 children in the United States - and nearly 400,000 children around the world.
Children with cancer and their families face enormous physical and emotional stress. We help ease the burden by helping to fund support services, activities and technology that brings comfort, connection, and hope.
the funding
The NIH shows the cost of developing a single cancer drug averages $648 million and takes about 7 years.
In the US, the cost of treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ranges from $250,000 to millions of dollars.
The cost of treating children with cancer and the cost of finding new medicines is funded privately. In fact, ALL of the money the US government spends in a year would barely fund the development of a single drug.
The U.S. has some of the best cancer care in the world, but it is expensive and it needs to progress faster.
The costs of researching and then treating cancer are mostly borne by the private sector and individuals.
Families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis will need a lot of help.