Kids Get Cancer Too

9/20/2012

    September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. East Tennessee Children's Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic averages 18-20 visits every day. 
   On September 29th, a group of East Tennessee Children's Hospital employees will participate in Knoxville's CureSearch Walk at Volunteer Landing. The team, known as the Sock Monkeys, hope to raise lots of money for childhood cancer research and "Sock it to Cancer." 
   Nurse Manager Margie McKelvey estimates that at any given time, there are approximately 30 children with various types of cancer on a chemotherapy treatment plan at Children's Hospital. 
   "During the last fiscal year, there were 2,378 visits to the Pediatric Oncology Clinic for cancer treatment or off-therapy follow up visits," McKelvey added.
    There are many different types of childhood cancer, but the most common is Leukemia. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, ALL, is the most common form of the disease. "In 1948, this cancer was considered incurable," explained McKelvey. "With research and clinical trials over the years since then, 8 out of 10 children with ALL will achieve a cure." 
   More still needs to be done. To find out how to participate in the CureSearch Walk and help find a cure for childhood cancer, just visit the 2012 Knoxville CureSearch web site. For more information about childhood cancer, visit the
KidsHealth Section of Children's Hospital web site.