Each September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month calls attention to the urgent need to advance research, improve treatments, and support the children and families affected by pediatric cancer. This month, we recognize the strength of young patients and their families as they confront the physical and mental drain caused by the worst diagnosis you could receive.
Hearing that your child has cancer is debilitating, but that is the reality for the parents of more than 290 children and adolescents in the U.S. each week. Across the United States, thousands of families will face these devastating diagnoses that change their lives forever. Despite this, less than 8 percent of federal cancer research funding is directed specifically to childhood cancers, leaving a critical gap.
Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under 14, with approximately 1,600 children and adolescents in the United States dying of cancer each year. While survival rates have improved for some cancers, progress has been uneven, and rare or aggressive forms still lack effective treatment options.
The daunting road ahead of these children is incomprehensible for many, causing a huge mental toll that can continue to accompany them long after their diagnosis. Studies conducted by JAMA found that childhood cancer survivors were 31.2 percent more likely to suffer from depression and subsequently 1.4 times more likely to commit suicide. Simultaneously, the families also suffer; a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology found that close to 20% of families affected by a cancer diagnosis had at least one parent living with PTSD.
Extended hospital stays, painful procedures, and the uncertainty of their future can leave families feeling anxious, isolated, or unable to express what they are going through. Recognizing these challenges, our arts program offers children a way to cope with this stress by providing creative outlets that nurture imagination and self-expression.
Positively Creative supports children diagnosed with cancer and their families through a unique program including arts and crafts, music performances, special birthday and holiday celebrations, and visits from comfort animals. Our craft programs are open to the imagination, including:
- Jewelry Making
- Painting
- Collage
- Scrapbooking
- Card Making
- Cookie and Cupcake Decorating
- Doll Making
- Knitting
- Flower Arranging
We provide all necessary supplies and work with volunteers to teach classes or host parties, help participants package their work, and assist with cleanup.
At the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of New Jersey, we remain steadfast in our mission to bring hope, healing, and meaningful support to children battling cancer and their families. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that we can all make a difference in the treatment of our young patients who deserve every chance to thrive.
