[ad_1]
PARENTS of children who have lost their fight against cancer are calling for greater awareness and research as part of Childhood Awareness Month across the country.
According to Children with Cancer, which organizes the awareness month, about 1,600 new childhood cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the United Kingdom among children under 14 years of age.
This means that one in every 500 children will develop a form of cancer by the age of 14.
Although some cancers are rare in children, such as liver and breast cancer, types such as forms of leukemia, brain tumors and spinal tumors are more common.
South Essex is home to a number of charities for children with cancer, which aim to help people with cancer and their families and to educate them about the signs and symptoms of cancer types.
The Indee Rose Trust, based in Canvey, was created in memory of the island girl, Indee Rose, who died in June 2009, after five months fighting an aggressive brain tumor.
Her mother, Jane Allen of Canvey, said that childhood brain cancer is one of the least studied and least funded types of cancer, and she wants to see more things to counteract this.
She said, "The type of cancer that Indee was suffering from was so aggressive.
"I think it's the worst because there is no treatment.
"There has been no progress in research over the past 70 years for this type of cancer.
"If a child gets it, its survival rate is very low.
"It's frustrating for us not to have seen progress over the years in the treatment and awareness of brain tumors."
Jane added that it was vital that the signs and symptoms of brain tumors be more widely disseminated, so that more young people could be diagnosed earlier, thus improving their chances of survival.
She said: "The symptoms of the Indee were similar to those of a stroke – his right side fell.
"Thinking that your child has had a stroke is bad enough, but to find cancer, words can not describe that feeling.
"I can not put it into words.
"People need to be more aware of the symptoms.
"Sometimes people may think it's just a virus, but it's a lot more serious."
Allen said health professionals, who can sometimes misdiagnose cancer in children, delay treatment.
Other charities that support children with cancer in South Essex include the Danny Green Fund.
The fund was launched in July 2012 in memory of Danny Green, 11, who died after losing his fight against brain and spinal cancer.
The goal of the association, created by his family, is to support young people with posterior fossa syndrome, a neurological condition that can occur after surgery for brain tumors.
For more information on the Indee Rose Trust, visit indeerosetrust.org
The Danny Green Fund also has a website at thedannygreenfund.org.uk
Visit childrenwithcancer.org.uk for more information on the week and how to support it, as well as tips and advice for people affected by cancer.
[ad_2]
Source link
