Did you know
that at least seven different Cancers have awareness campaigns during the month
of September? Depending on the organization or cancer awareness calendar you
reference, you may find cancers listed in different months. The cancer ribbon
awareness bookmarks we produce and have available for free recognize the
following in September: Childhood Cancer, Leukemia, Liver, Lymphoma, Ovarian,
Prostate and Uterine. Swing by our library at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center to
pick up your free bookmark and a free ribbon pin to show your support for those
who are or have been affected by these diseases.
Often a
particular cancer receives more attention than other cancers which are every
bit as devastating and need greater awareness created. More often than not, the
cancers you hear about effect a higher percentage of the population. They also
often have community supporters who rally behind the disease to generate a
buzz, creating greater awareness. Ovarian Cancer Together is one such group
that is doing a number of activities to promote greater awareness of “the
silent killer” this month. How can you miss the teal Cable Bridge!
Childhood
Cancer is one of the diseases you may not hear as much about. Sadly, it is a heart
wrenching disease and is best treated by healthcare professionals who
specialize in children’s oncology. Children’s treatment needs are very
different from the treatment we administer to adults. It is a specialized field
within oncology. We are sure all parents would agree they want only the best
for their children. If your child is diagnosed with cancer you want to rely on
a team of professionals, whose focus is children’s oncology, providing cutting
edge treatments on a daily basis. Fortunately, the Tri-Cities community sees
only a small number of childhood cancer cases annually. This is not to minimize
the disease or incidence. Unfortunately, due to this the specialists who care
for children are located in major metropolitan areas. Children’s Hospitals of
Seattle and Spokane are experts in childhood cancer care. This is where we refer
families who are faced with a childhood cancer diagnosis.
While we may
not treat Childhood Cancer at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, we do have
resources for the children and their families facing this disease. We have
financial assistance, educational materials and so much more. Please call our
Nurse Navigation staff to find out more: (509) 737-3432.
Please check
back into our blog next week as our Community Educator, Cindy Miller, RN,
CBPN-IC, talks about signs and symptoms of childhood cancer and highlights some
of the resources we have available.
