September marks National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial period to shed light on the impact of cancer on children and their families. Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for more than 2,400 children battling cancer across North and South Carolina this year alone.
Every working day, an average of three children are diagnosed with cancer in the Carolinas, contributing to the 700 or more new cases each year. These children join the ranks of over 9,000 who are already in treatment or survivorship. Cancer remains the #1 disease killer of children and youth in America, with new diagnoses rising by approximately 0.07% annually over the last three decades.
Despite advancements in adult cancer treatments, children continue to face significant challenges:
- Limited Access to Care: Only nine locations in the Carolinas treat pediatric cancers, contributing to disparities in care, especially for children from rural or low-income families. These children are three times more likely to face delayed diagnoses, undertreatment, or relapse due to distance from treatment centers and limited family resources.
- Inadequate Research Funding: Less than 4% of all cancer research funding is dedicated to pediatric cancers. Over the past four years, 73 new treatments have been introduced for adults, whereas only four new treatments have emerged for children in the last 73 years.
- Life Expectancy Impact: While adult cancer victims lose an average of 15 years of life, children lose an estimated 71 years of life expectancy. The survival rate for children drops significantly when considering a realistic survival period of 20 years, with only one in three surviving.
Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas serves as a vital safety net with wraparound services, ensuring that all children in the Carolinas have access to the best possible care. This year alone, CCP will assist more than 2,400 children receiving treatment at Carolina or national pediatric oncology centers, providing over $1,000,000 in travel costs. The organization will raise and distribute approximately $2.7 million in direct support to Carolina families, exclusive of administrative and fundraising expenses.
Laura Allen, Executive Director of CCP, emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between medical advancements and accessibility: “The best research and finest doctors are of no use to a child who cannot get there. At Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, we overcome disparities of distance and family finances so that every Carolina child has an equal fighting chance.
While survival rates for childhood cancer are improving, the battle is far from over. One in five children do not survive five years beyond their diagnosis. Last year, CCP provided funeral and grief assistance to 87 families, a number expected to rise this year.
Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas holds a GOLD Star charity rating from Guidestar and is the leading referral resource for Carolina pediatric oncology centers. As part of its ongoing mission, CCP is committed to raising awareness, supporting families, and advocating for increased research funding to improve the outlook for children battling cancer.
For more information on CCP’s mission during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, please visit ChildrensCancerPartners.org.
If you are interested in talking to a childhood cancer expert at CCP, or a family who benefits from this aid, please contact Aly Ruggiero at aly@childrenscancerpartners.org or 864-504-2817.
About Children’s Cancer Partners
The mission of Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is to provide comprehensive support and loving compassion to families whose children are battling cancer to improve their overall quality of life. The organization serves children and families throughout SC and NC. www.childrenscancerpartners.org
