Awareness

 Today I read a blogpost from a lady that has become my friend through the blogging world. Another friend clued me into her blog when Andrew was midway through this treatments. This blog friend has a son that has gone through neuroblastoma also and has had similiar treatments and diagnosis. As I read her blog today, it opened my eyes a little wider to the cancer world. I have always heard about St. Jude's hospital or been surrounded by pink during "breast cancer awareness" month. I pass ribbons in the store aisles and see logos on bumper stickers. Now when I see those same things I glance a little longer. I read a little closer. Why? Because I have been touched personally by cancer. It was always my greatest fear...what if I get cancer? What if someone I love gets cancer? Will I survive? Well, we have been touched by it and we have made it to the other side. But as I read this blog post I realized even more how ugly the cancer world, and especially the pediatric cancer world it. How blessed we are to have our son home, in our arms, well...alive. As I transition out of "trauma mode" I long to begin to make a difference in this scary world. To comfort other hurting families. To raise awareness...I mean serious awareness of the signs of cancers and how to detect them early on. I want to give back to organizations that support cancer research so kids like my own have a chance at life. And I want others to jump on this band wagon.  My husband is a pastor in our church in our local city and I long to find other families in that city that wrestle with cancer. Families that not only need physical hope of healing, but hope of a God that loves them and can offer them more than they will ever find anywhere else. And my voice is a little louder because of our experience. I would love for you to take a minute and read my friend's blog quote. Read and thank God again for us because of the mercy shown to Andrew. Read and see how you can become more aware of cancer signs and how to help others. This isn't meant to be a depressing or alarming email to make you panic. It is meant to really rise awareness of the brokenness that goes on with families.....families like you and me.

"Today I received a solicitation from St Jude's hospital in the mail. You know the ones...you get a great sheet of return address labels along with a plea for a donation? The lady of a few years ago would have taken those labels and thrown away the rest. Today I actually read it. I know St. Jude is very involved with pediatric cancer treatment and research. They included a chart that compared 5-year survival rates for several different types of pediatric cancer. The chart compared survival rates from 1962 to present day. It was shocking to see how low survival rates were for children only 50 years ago...as low as 4%.


The encouraging news was just how much survival rates have increased in the last 5 decades. For example Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia had a 5-year survival rate of only 4% in 1962 and now...the survival rate is 94%!!! Earlier detection, better screening tests, and improved treatment options have all impacted survival rates in amazing ways! Of the 10 types of childhood cancer listed, 6 of them have survival rates of greater than 85%.

The bad news is that Neuroblastoma had the lowest survival rate of all the types of cancer listed. The 5 year survival rate for children with Neuroblastoma is a dreadful 55%. I was shocked to see how much lower the survival rate was for NB than Leukemia, Lymphoma, and other cancers of the eye, kidneys, and bone. I have to say that I instantly thought of 10 or so children I know of with NB, and yes, only about half of them are still alive. This statistic is scary...

I think why this statistic is so shocking to me is because Neuroblastoma is a relatively new word in my vocabulary. I bet if I was to ask you how many of you had heard of NB before my son, many of you would join me in saying you hadn't ever heard that word. And this is precisely why I need to continue to speak out about this disease...raise awareness...educate parents about warning signs...raise research money...and support families fighting this disease. I understand that research money for NB is low because kids are diagnosed with other types of cancer in greater numbers, but that certainly doesn't minimize the impact that this disease has on the 700 children who are diagnosed each year. I need to keep talking about it."

Thank you dear friends and family for taking the time to read our posts. Thank you for continuing to pray for our family that continues to need daily strength and energy. Thank you for becoming just a little more aware of the battle that many people fight with cancer and taking time to think about your health. We love you all dearly.