Each year, about 1,500 children and
teens in Canada are diagnosed with cancer – cancer is the leading cause
of death due to disease in kids. In our community, that translates to
more than 925 kids in active or long-term follow up cancer care at the
Alberta Children’s Hospital. Over the past several decades, research and
new treatments have made it possible for 80% of children diagnosed with
cancer to survive. Despite these advances in cure rate, more than half
of survivors will suffer severe or even life-threatening side effects
later in life, including problems with the heart, lungs, senses,
intellect and secondary cancers. There is still much more work to be
done for these children suffering late effects and for the one in five
who will not survive.
For every 100 children diagnosed with cancer:
20 will not survive
64 will have lasting side effects
All of them will suffer to some degree
Community support is helping childhood cancer specialists at our hospital provide the best care possible for young people and their families. At the same time, your donations are enabling a team of scientists to search for new cures and new ways to reduce the harmful side effects of current treatments.
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