September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Childhood cancer is one of the leading causes of death in children across Canada, but treatments are improving. With your help, treatments can be further improved in hopes of one day reducing the mortality rate to zero.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that each year, 850 Canadian children (0-14 years of age) develop cancer. The mortality rate is one in six, making childhood cancer the second leading cause of death in this age group. Fortunately, improvements in cancer treatment have reduced the mortality rate.(Statistics retrieved from the Public Health Agency of Canada. For more information about childhood cancer, click here).

Leukemia, lymphomas,and brain and spinal tumors are the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancers. As prenatal factors are suspected to cause childhood cancer, it is important that expecting mothers be aware of potential carcinogens (cancer causing agents) or endocrine disruptors (hormone altering chemicals)they may be exposed to on a daily basis.

Postnatal factors also contribute to the risk of childhood cancers (and any other kinds of cancer that may develop later on in life). It is vital to make sure your children have a healthy, balanced diet and maintain an active lifestyle. Also, avoid exposing them to secondhand smoke.  Most importantly, ensure they are wearing sunscreen (with a high SPF) whenever they are out in the sun for extended periods of time.

You can make a difference.There are many ways in which you can help make a difference. Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation is a foundation that helps people get involved in supporting the fight against cancer. A few examples of what you can do include holding a fundraiser, making a donation, and doing volunteer work. Make sure to visit Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation’s webpage for news, facts, events, stories, and other ways to get involved.    They not only provide funds for research on fighting cancer, but they also provide much needed financial support to the children and families that are battling the disease.