Attempts to detect childhood cancers at an earlier stage, when the disease would react more favorably to treatment, have largely failed. Young patients often have a more advanced stage of cancer when first diagnosed. Approximately 20% of adults with cancer show evidence the disease has spread; yet almost 80% of children show that the cancer has spread to distant sites at the time of diagnosis.
While the cancer death rate has dropped more dramatically for children than for any other age group, 2,300 children and teenagers will die each year from cancer.
Today, while 80% to 90% percent of children in developed countries diagnosed with some types of cancer are cured, there are still many types of cancers that claim the lives of nearly all children diagnosed. These forms of childhood cancers have proven so resistant to treatment that, in spite of research, a cure is elusive. Furthermore, among those who do survive, two out of three will live with lifelong problems such as learning disabilities, hearing loss, heart disease, infertility, secondary cancers and more.
Nationally, childhood cancer is 20 times more prevalent than pediatric AIDS. Yet, pediatric AIDS receives four times the funding that childhood cancer receives.
Childhood cancer is not a single disease, but rather many different types that fall into 12 major categories. Common adult cancers are extremely rare in children, yet many cancers are almost exclusively found in children.
Over 60% of long-term childhood cancer survivors have a chronic illness as a consequence of the therapy they received, and over 25% have a severe or life-threatening illness.
The health risks survivors face as they age depend on the exposures they received as treatment for their cancer. Each chemotherapeutic agent, radiation dose or surgery has unique potential long-term consequences. The health risks include second cancers, heart disease, infertility and many others. Understanding the exposures and developing a personalized, risk-based screening plan is critical to maintaining wellness for survivors.
Childhood Cancers are cancers that primarily affect children, teens, and young adults. When cancer strikes children and adolescents it affects them differently than it would an adult, often causing problems related to developmental issues.
The cause of most childhood cancers is unknown and at present, childhood cancers cannot be prevented. Most adult cancers result from lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, occupation, and other exposure to cancer-causing agents.
Common cancer symptoms in children — fever, swollen glands, anemia, bruises and infection — are often suspected to be, and at the early stages are treated as, other childhood illnesses.
We have many supporters who are eager to help us reach our million dollar goal! As a muti-event campaign, and with our Honorary Momma category, it is possible to join an event near you, or even create your own 46 Mommas event! You can be a part of the the campaign and Shave for the Brave in your own backyard!
If you have community support, you could consider a large event, with multiple shavees. It is also possible to create a "virtual" event -- which means you pick a day that YOU will shave, set up a fundraising page, and publicize your goal.
No matter where they shave, BALD MOMS ROCK! What about 46 grandmas, 46 survivors, or 46 friends? There is no limit to who can help. Help us make a highly-visible difference and Conquer Kids' Cancer!
Since we began fundraising in Fall of 2009 our campaign has raised over $1,000,600.00 - and still climbing!!!! We are excited to see just high our total will be after our 4th annual event in San Antonio, TX on June 30, 2013.
Despite vast differences, the 46 Mommas are united as mothers, caregivers, and fierce advocates for children diagnosed with cancer. Help us fund research for cures and healthier survivorship.
Yes! There is still room on the 2013 roster! We are accepting applications until Mother's Day (5/12/13). Please email membership@46mommas.com for more information and to request an application.
In this 4th year of the campaign, we are not being too strict about meeting a full 46 momma quota. We will stage the event June 30, 2013 in San Antonio, TX regardless of the number of mommas enrolled. We maintain the team name "46 Mommas Shave for the Brave" because when their child was diagnosed, each of our mommas became "1 of 46."
Childhood cancer research can impact adults with cancer. In fact, many of the greatest breakthroughs in cancer treatment have come from pediatrics. Chemotherapy, different types of bone marrow transplantation, gene therapies and advanced clinical trial systems, all first developed for children with cancer, now have a great effect on the way adult cancers are treated - all the more reason to support childhood cancer research!
In 2011 only 4% of federal cancer research funding was directed to childhood cancers. And recent reports from the National Institute of Health show that research grant funding has reached its lowest point in history with the percentage of reviewed applications that receive funding at a meager 18%
Childhood cancers, already underfunded compared to other cancers, are included in the current cuts, so parents, who are in a race against the clock to save their children, are told that the resources are now scarcer than ever. Even the slightest decrease in funding has great impact.
With the amount of federal funds shrinking each year, there is a crucial need for alternative means to provide grants to researchers that will enable them to continue projects that show promise. That’s where the St. Baldrick’s Foundation steps in - to help fill this gap in funding - and why the 46 Mommas campaign was conceived!
Pharmaceutical companies often shy away from developing childhood cancer drugs because of low profit levels. Because of this, only two drugs have been approved by the FDA in the last 20 years to treat children with cancer.
Several childhood cancers continue to have a very poor prognosis, including: brain stem tumors, metastatic sarcomas, relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
In addition to the risks to physical health many survivors experience anxiety: 16% of survivors meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety and depression can have a profound impact on wellness, even in those with excellent physical health. Knowing the signs of anxiety or depression, recognizing that these do not represent a failure or weakness, and accepting help can greatly improve survivor wellness.
In 2012 we welcomed Canadian mommas to participate with our team! While our team name is based on the statistic that 46 kids each weekday in the US are diagnosed with cancer, we are absolutely aware that childhood cancer affects the world population! Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every 3 1/2 minutes. Research can be an international collaboration.
Please email membership@46mommas.com if you are interested in joining us. St. Baldrick's Foundation-funded research will make a difference for the 160,000 children diagnosed annually worldwide.
In 2012 we established the "Honorary Momma" category, for the many friends and relatives, male or female, who would like to shave in honor of a child. Email membership@46mommas.com for more information and an application. If you’re not interested in shaving, you can still support us by donating to the team or a specific momma, or by registering as a volunteer.
In 2012 we added the "Honorary Momma" category, for the many friends and relatives, male or female, who would like to shave in honor of a child. Email membership@46mommas.com for more information and an application. If you’re not interested in shaving, you can still support us by donating to the team or a specific momma, or by registering as a volunteer.
The 46 Mommas are women from across the United States and Canada whose children were diagnosed with cancer. Some of these children have died, some have survived, and others are still in treatment. On September 9, 2010 the inaugral team came together from across the US and met in Hollywood, CA to shave their heads as a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The second annual event took place in Washington, D.C. on September 21, 2011, with a new class of Mommas. After shaving, the 2011 Mommas visited their Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for legislative change on behalf of their children. On July 29th, 2012 the campaign returned to Hollywood, CA for the third annual shave. The 2012 team included Mommas from Canada for the first time, representing Childhood Cancer Canada. This amazing international bond highlighted that childhood cancer crosses over borders and so do Mommas on a mission. It is also a testament to St. Baldrick's commitment to international collaboration.
On June 30, 2013 the 4th class of Mommas will gather to shave in San Antonio, TX where the original goal of $1Million will be met...and exceeded!
The 46 Mommas represent the mothers of all children diagnosed with cancer. On the day of diagnosis these mothers, like their child, become "1 of 46."
Our Founding Momma is Tiffany Beamer. She began discussing the idea on the PAC2 website: http://curechildhoodcancer.ning.com and several other moms from this grassroots advocacy organization joined, and began recruiting other mommas.
Each weekday in the US, approximately 46 kids are diagnosed with some form of cancer. Our annual shaving team represents the mothers of these children.
Most of our kids lost their hair during treatment, and did not have the choice to be bald. We chose to shave our heads to stand in solidarity with our kids, and bring awareness to childhood cancer. We knew a large group of bald moms would generate a lot of curiosity, and would therefore give us a platform to raise awareness.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Since 2000, more than 200,000 volunteers -- including over 18,000 women -- have shaved in solidarity with children with cancer at events in dozens of countries and every U.S. state. St. Baldrick’s donors and volunteers have enabled the foundation to fund over $103 million in grants.
Further, of every dollar raised for the foundation, 82% funds research to find a cure, 16% goes to fundraising (website, phones, postage, printing, t-shirts, office space, staff, etc.) and 2% goes to administration (accounting, distributing and monitoring grants, etc.). St. Baldrick's takes its responsibility to be efficient and good stewards of every dollar donated very seriously, and strives to put the most funding possible into the hands of researchers who can cure childhood cancers.
Our campaign mission is two-fold. We are committed to raising awareness of childhood cancer, and we are committed to helping fund pediatric specific oncology research. The choice to work with St. Baldrick's was easy! We knew that shaving our heads as a large group of women would generate a lot of attention for the cause, and that our fundraising efforts would be used responsibly for funding important research to help kids diagnosed with cancer.
Since we began fundraising in Fall of 2009 our campaign has raised over $1,000,600.00 - and still climbing!!!! We are excited to see just high our total will be after our 4th annual event in San Antonio, TX on June 30, 2013.
Despite vast differences, the 46 Mommas are united as mothers, caregivers, and fierce advocates for children diagnosed with cancer. Help us fund research for cures and healthier survivorship.
