The St. Baldrick's Foundation published a blog with new research stats on childhood cancer. Some statistics are still the same, but what alarmed researchers is the fact that more children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. According to a study by the World Health Organization, every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. One thing is for certain, we are grateful to have The Connor's Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund funding research for cancer's youngest patients right here in Richmond. The following ten facts were taken from the blog post: http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/childhood-cancer-facts-10-things-you-should-know

1. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. 
It’s the second leading cause of death (following accidents) in children ages 5-14.

2. Every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer.
That’s 300,000 kids around the world every year. 

3. The average age of a child diagnosed with cancer is 6. 
Childhood cancer is diagnosed in all ages, from newborn infants to children and young adults.

4. 80% of children diagnosed with cancer are in developing countries.
Childhood cancer is a global problem, and one institution can’t solve it alone.

5. The most common childhood cancer is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 
In the 1950s, almost every kid with ALL died. But today, thanks to childhood cancer research, about 90% of children with ALL will survive.

6. In 80% of kids with cancer, the cancer has already spread to other areas of the body by the time it is diagnosed.
That’s why so many children with cancer need to begin treatment right away. Many adult cancers can be diagnosed early.

7. Much of what we know about treating adult cancers has been learned from childhood cancer research. 
Some aspects of cancer treatment today, such as combination chemotherapy, can be traced to pediatric cancer research.

8. There are over a dozen types of childhood cancer and hundred of different subtypes. 
The more rare types — when added together — account for about 30% of cancers in children and adolescents. But because so few children are diagnosed with each type, it’s very difficult to do research on these cancers.

9. One in five children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. will not survive.
For the ones who do, the battle is never over.

10. Because of the treatments they had as kids, by the time they’re in their 30s or 40s, more than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a chronic health problem and 80% will have severe or life- threatening conditions.
Children should not only survive, but thrive.