September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and everyone is encouraged during this month to learn more about the types of cancers that affect children. Every year in the U.S., more than 17,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. That means that 47 children every single day of the year receive a new cancer diagnosis in the U.S.

This makes childhood cancer the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 19. It also means that one out of every 285 American children will be diagnosed with cancer before they reach the age of 20.

Yet, despite all these harrowing facts, childhood cancer research is still chronically and consistently underfunded. However, we can change that fact, and one of the first steps to changing it is to observe this month.

The History of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Although Childhood Cancer Awareness Month had been observed unofficially for many years across the U.S., it didn’t officially become an observance month until 2012. This is when U.S. President Barack Obama issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing this month.

He did the same again in 2015 and then in 2016 as well. In 2019, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia introduced a resolution that officially recognized National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month every year. The resolution passed on September 26th, 2019.

Important Facts to Know About Childhood Cancers

Below are some facts that we’ve learned about childhood cancers that we think everyone should know. We discovered these facts while researching this month, and hopefully, these facts will illuminate the subject in a way that will motivate people to do more to find a cure for these diseases.

• In 2016, there were approximately 429,000 survivors of childhood cancer living in the U.S.
• Even when treatment rids a child of cancer, there can be long-term chronic health conditions that persist.
• Around the world, over 400,000 new cases of childhood cancer occur every year.

Observing National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

During this month, we encourage everyone to spread the word about National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The only way that more money is going to be raised toward a cure for these types of cancer is to raise the public’s awareness. One way to spread the word about this month is by using the hashtag #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth.

However, that’s not the only way to spread awareness. People can also tell their friends and family members about this month. They can also organize events to raise money for childhood cancers, and they can donate directly to organizations that research childhood cancers.