Tonight, three years ago, at around this time, my DH, DD and I were about to sit down to dinner when we received a phone call to tell us that a doctor was on her way to speak to us urgently. DD had had a blood test that morning to see why her persistent viral symptoms were dragging on for a few weeks. When the doctor arrived she sat all three of us down and told us that our little 3yo girl had cancer - leukaemia.
September is internationally recognised as Childhood Cancer Awareness month and also Leukaemia Awareness month (although some UK charities use December for Childhood Cancer). Success rates are rising all the time, and currently stand at around 80%, but a big part of this is catching cancers early before they have time to spread. Raising awareness through Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is crucial, and can save lives.
The awareness colour for Childhood Cancer is gold, and for Leukaemia is orange. Can I ask as many of you as possible to change your names to include gold or orange for September and to visit the link below to find out more about the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer so that if a child you know is that one in 500 diagnosed with cancer before their 15th birthday, they have the best chance possible of beating it. The government provides no funding to raising awareness of childhood cancers, so it is up to everyone else to make sure the knowledge is out there.
DD is in remission and doing well after two years of constant chemotherapy, but this month we will especially be thinking of the families we know who were not so lucky. DD lost a lovely friend at the beginning of the summer - her cancer was missed despite numerous visits to the GP until it had spread, and although she battled so very bravely and with huge spirit for 3 years, the cancer could not be beaten. For the less common cancers especially, GPs may only see one in their whole career, so it is important that as many of us know the signs and symptoms as possible to give every child affected the best chance they can.
Thinking very much also of MrsDeVere and Expat and your beautiful, darling girls, and the other parents on MN whose kids have fought, are still fighting or who have passed to childhood cancer. Sadly, there are far too many of you to name you all here.
The symptoms of Childhood Cancer