Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer, and each year, 12 percent of the 40,000 children who receive cancer treatment do not survive. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, organizations work to spread important information regarding the issues surrounding cancer in children. Parents in Oregon and across the nation may benefit from learning about the cancers issues that could possibly affect their children.
This specially designated month offers the chance to discuss the development of new approaches to cancer research. The progress moves at a slow pace because many research facilities lack funding to produce complete results. Attention should also be paid to the personal stories of the patients and survivors of cancer. This can aid children who are currently suffering from the disease or who have just been diagnosed.
According to researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital, one out of every 71 cases of cancer is misdiagnosed and 20 percent of cancer cases are incorrectly classified. The misdiagnosis of cancer can affect a child not only emotionally, but physically as well since the child will begin to receive cancer treatment he or she does not require.
There are a variety of ways to show support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Wearing a gold ribbon signifies awareness and can be used as a conversation point to spread information about childhood cancer. Fundraising is another way to show support as cancer treatment is very costly and many families with a child stricken with cancer have difficulty affording necessary treatment. Engaging others on different social media platforms can also help spread awareness about childhood cancer.
Unfortunately, the failure to diagnose cancer in a timely manner is not uncommon, and it can result in delayed treatment and a worsened medical condition. Patients and their family members who have been harmed by such a failure may want to meet with a medical malpractice attorney to discuss their options.