It is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month - Lets spread the word!
“Arnav has bone cancer. His leg will be amputated. This type of cancer has high chances of relapse and can eventually take his life.”
Those were the words that I remember coming out of the doctor’s mouth when Arnav was diagnosed in August 2016.
How can Arnav have cancer? Certainly not due to a bad diet. Infact, he was very fit and a healthy kid. Besides, pediatric cancer does not run in our family.
Unlike adult cancer, childhood cancer(s) are not subject to lifestyle or environmental risk factors. Childhood cancers are a result of DNA changes that take place early in life or sometimes even before the birth. Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone.
Did you know that…
Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in children.
In the U.S., 43 children receive a cancer diagnosis each day? That number equals nearly 16,000 per year, which translates into 1 in 285 children.
Of every four children diagnosed with cancer, one will not survive.
More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health-related issue by the time they are 45 years of age.
We need to change statistics here. Awareness is one of the key ways of finding a way to eradicate this disease. How can you help create awareness? Let's create awareness in our schools, our colleges and our workplaces. Let's work together to eradicate pediatric cancer!
September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. Though if you ask me, I think every month should be Pediatric Cancer Awareness month until we find a cure.
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Arnav Krishna was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer that strikes only 400 teenagers annually, at the age of 14. After he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, Arnav adopted the mantra 'Relentless Positivity' to help him through the tough chemotherapy treatments and difficult surgeries he would need. He and his family would hold these words in their hearts through his long fight.
In a 2017 essay, Arnav wrote that 'cancer has taught me many things. It has taught me to appreciate what I have and enjoy the simple things in life… It has also taught me the value of friendship. Through [my treatments], many of my friends visited me and I had a great time when they would come over. They gave me hope and kept me positive even in the darkest of times.'
Arnav lost his battle to cancer in December of 2018. He was 16 years old with a lifetime ahead of him. His family and friends have adopted his mantra of “Relentless Positivity” and created the Team Arnav Foundation. Together, they are committed to eradicating osteosarcoma. Will you join them?