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This September, communities across the nation have come together for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® as it continues driving research and treatment for pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Funds raised help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food ― so they can focus on helping their child live.
On average, more than 290 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer every week. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped improve the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since the hospital opened in 1962. St. Jude leads more clinical trials for childhood cancer than any other children’s hospital in the U.S.
Danny Thomas, the son of immigrant Lebanese parents, founded St. Jude to care for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay.
The most common childhood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors. However, there are over 100 different types of cancers that occur in children.
Thanks in part to the work at St. Jude, the survival rates for certain types of childhood cancers have drastically improved. Based on national averages from 2001–2007, the five-year cancer survival rates are:
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia* (blood cancer)
- 1960: 4%
- Today: 94%
- Hodgkin Lymphoma (lymph system cancer)
- 1960: 50%
- Today: 95%
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (lymph system cancer)
- 1960: 7%
- Today: 80%
- Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
- 1960: 20%
- Today: 70%
- Ewing Sarcoma (bone cancer)
- 1960: 5%
- Today: 65%
- Neuroblastoma (cancerous tumor)
- 1960: 10%
- Today: 75%
- Medulloblastoma** (brain cancer)
- 1960: 10%
- Today: 85%
- Retinoblastoma (eye cancer)
- 1960: 75%
- Today: 95%
- Wilms Tumor (kidney cancer)
- 1960: 50%
- Today: 90%
*Reflects survival rate at St. Jude, the highest worldwide for ALL.
**Reflects survival rate at St. Jude, standard—risk and high—risk, the highest among national cooperative groups for medulloblastoma.
“This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we are reminded of the incredible power of unity and compassion. It is truly wonderful to see people from all walks of life and all corners of our country rally to improve the lives of children in treatment today and those who will be diagnosed tomorrow,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “We are deeply grateful for the individuals, corporate partners, and celebrities who are making a transformative impact by helping St. Jude accelerate cutting-edge research and treatment to create a brighter future for children from communities everywhere.”
Make a difference for children and families everywhere this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more at stjude.org.
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