All kids like to pretend they’re adults. What little kid hasn’t made his parents laugh by donning a pair of giant cowboy boots, or a hat and sunglasses? We catch them cutting their own hair, or “practice” shaving. But just because kids like to pretend they’re grown up doesn’t mean we should treat them the same way. We have special laws that protect their safety. We make sure they watch age-appropriate TV and movies. We order for them off the kid’s menu, and buy them age-appropriate toys. Why? Because we want to protect them and keep them safe. So why don’t we treat childhood cancers the same way?
Adults and Kids Don’t Get the Same Cancers
- Cancer is detected earlier in adults than kids.
- In adults, cancer is more likely to start in the lungs, breast, colon, prostate or skin.
- In kids, cancer is more likely to start in the white blood cells, nervous system, bones, lymphatic system, muscles or kidneys.
- Some cancers target kids under age 5, others target teenagers.
- Even when kids get the same cancers adults get, like lymphoma, they must be treated differently.
Today’s Childhood Cancer Treatments
- Many childhood cancers are treated with drugs that were originally approved for adults.
- Since 1980, only three FDA-approved drugs have been developed for pediatric cancers.
- Teenagers and young adults are often treated as adults.
- 30% more of these kids would survive if they received childhood cancer treatments.
- Current treatments damage their developing bodies, causing lifelong side effects.
What Happens When Kids Are Treated Like Adults
- Childhood cancer survivors often wind up battling chronic illness and debilitating conditions, including:
- loss of hearing and vision
- heart disease
- secondary cancers
- learning disabilities
- infertility
At G1ve A Buck, We Think Kids Should Be Treated Like Kids
That’s why we donate 100% of our proceeds to programs focused on finding kid-size cures that speed up treatment and reduce painful, life-limiting side effects, so that survivors can lead long, healthy lives.