Gold ribbon art by St. Jude survivor Tayde
When is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?
In 2012, President Obama proclaimed September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to bring awareness to pediatric cancer, which remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14.
See how we're treating and defeating childhood cancer, and #ShowYourGold by sharing a picture while wearing gold. The gold color and a gold ribbon are symbols for cancer affecting children.
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since we opened more than 50 years ago. And we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude creates more clinical trials for childhood cancer than any other children's hospital in the U.S.
Our global initiative with the World Health Organization aims to cure at least 60% of children with six of the most common cancers by 2030. To further advance cures, we freely share our research worldwide through data-sharing and analysis resources. Every child saved at St. Jude means thousands more are saved in your community and around the world.
St. Jude works to uncover these mutations and increase the chances of early detection and treatment. We are finding out why some cancers run in families and why certain people get more than one cancer.
More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors have significant treatment-related health issues.
About 483,000 childhood cancer survivors live in the U.S. Our groundbreaking survivorship studies provide a greater understanding of the long-term effects of pediatric cancer treatment and help researchers develop novel therapies to minimize those late effects.
Learn more childhood cancer facts.
Art by St. Jude patient Violet
Our stories
Learn about our patients, their diagnosis and how St. Jude is helping.
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When they told us that everything will be free, it was like a thorn was taken away. We didn’t expect anything like this. We were so grateful.
Mark, Aspen's dad
Neuroblastoma
Solid tumor
- Neuroblastoma accounts for 50% of all cancers in infants, making it the most common tumor in children younger than one year.
- It can be inherited (passed down in families).
- Treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy for patients with less aggressive spread and stem cell transplant for higher-risk patients.
- St. Jude currently has clinical trials (scientific research that involves people) open for patients with neuroblastoma. Learn more about NBL1232.
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Every experience at St. Jude, you feel loved. St. Jude has given us hope, love and a home away from home.
Abraham's mom, Andrea
Medulloblastoma
Brain tumor
- Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood.
- It is a brain tumor of the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordinated movements.
- It's commonly treated with surgery to remove the tumor followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
- St. Jude is currently looking for patients for SJDAWN, a clinical trial for patients whose medulloblastomas have not gotten better with treatment or have come back after treatment.
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I can't imagine what life after treatment would be like if we were worrying about bills.
Eleanor's dad, Daniel
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common cancer among children and affects boys and girls equally.
- It is seen more often in people who are exposed to large amounts of radiation and some kinds of chemicals.
- St. Jude pioneered outpatient clinical trials for children with leukemia, reducing the need for inpatient stays.
- St. Jude is currently investigating treating AML with CAR T-cell therapy. Learn more about our trial for patients age 21 and older.
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Being at St. Jude as a patient made me want to come back and work there. I wanted to be a part of that incredibly hopeful environment.
Hayley, survivor of osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma
Bone cancer
- Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer and the third most common cancer in children and teens.
- It occurs most often in children older than 10 and is seen more in boys than in girls.
- Osteosarcoma is primarily treated using surgery and chemotherapy.
- St. Jude surgeons continue to explore new limb-sparing techniques to improve survival and help children live normal lives after treatment.
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“I knew I was going to get through it.”
St. Jude patient Faith
Ewing sarcoma
Bone cancer
- Ewing sarcoma often grows in the bones or soft tissue around bones and most commonly develops in the legs, pelvis, ribs, arms or spine.
- Although rare, it is the second most common type of bone cancer in children.
- About half of all Ewing sarcoma tumors occur in children and young adults between ages 10 and 20.
- Chemotherapy is the first step in treating Ewing sarcoma, followed by surgery and possibly radiation therapy.
NATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, 2012, BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
While much remains to be done, our Nation has come far in the fight to understand, treat, and control childhood cancer. Thanks to ongoing advances in research and treatment, the 5 year survival rate for all childhood cancers has climbed from less than 50 percent to 80 percent over the past several decades. Researchers around the world continue to pioneer new therapies and explore the root causes of the disease, driving progress that could reveal cures or improved outcomes for patients. But despite the gains we have made, help still does not come soon enough for many of our sons and daughters, and too many families suffer pain and devastating loss.
My Administration will continue to support families battling pediatric cancer and work to ease the burdens they face. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies can no longer deny health coverage to children because of pre existing conditions, including cancer, nor can they drop coverage because a child is diagnosed with cancer. The law also bans insurers from placing a lifetime dollar limit on the amount of coverage they provide, giving families peace of mind that their coverage will be there when they need it most. And as we work to ensure all Americans have access to affordable health care, my Administration will continue to invest in the cutting edge cancer research that paves the way for tomorrow's breakthroughs.
This month, we pay tribute to the families, friends, professionals, and communities who lend their strength to children fighting pediatric cancer. May their courage and commitment continue to move us toward new cures, healthier outcomes, and a brighter future for America's youth.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2012 as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage all Americans to join me in reaffirming our commitment to fighting childhood cancer.