It's sad that we need an International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
Not long ago, we didn't know much about cancer and we hardly ever thought about childhood cancers.
Now, worries of Dexter and cancer are often in the back of our minds...
horrible thoughts, festering and leaving us worried and tired.
We've written about Cancer Awareness Days before.
However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. In fact childhood cancer is a medical research success story. Fifty years ago childhood cancer was virtually untreatable.
Today, research has turned that figure around and we now see almost 80% of children with cancer survive.
Kids' Cancer Project
**Research is helping! Raising awareness is helping!
Sponsor Dexter in our Relay for Life, and help with cancer research.
(Sponsor us here.)
It changed our whole outlook on things.
In some ways, we are much stronger and much tougher...
and in other ways, we are still broken and hurting.
In some ways, we have more patience and tolerance
... but in other ways, we are less tolerate.
We see things differently now.
Our priorities have shifted and we are different people.
How could we not be?
We watched Dexter go through an awful ordeal...
We watched him fight and cry.
Source
Dexter's cancer was detected early.
Dexter's cancer responded well to treatment.
Dexter's cancer hadn't yet reached his lungs.
Dexter's cancer could be surgically removed - it was in the 'correct areas' of his liver.
And, Dexter's cancer was in the only organ which can rejenerate. While Dexter lost half his liver, it will grow back to a certain degree. He should end up with about 75% of his liver.
We're lucky, because Dexter is here today, and many, many, many children are not.
Kids' Cancer Project
We've made one year cancer clear!
A few years ago, we never really spent any time thinking about childhood cancers, but now, we know more than we ever thought we would.
And, if Dexter had to go through that and he was able to survive it, we feel it is our responsibility to help others learn about childhood cancers.
We have to speak for him and help raise awareness.
And, research is working.
Children and being treated saved. Survival rates are rising.
For International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day today, maybe you could tell someone a little about childhood cancers. maybe you could help us to raise awareness.
Sponsor Team Love Dexter in our Relay for Life
and chemotherapy treatments or surgery,
we might be able to help you. Don't be afraid to ask.
These are links to earlier posts we're written: See the Cancer (pre-detection) Lizard Hair One Year Cancer Clear End of Chemotherapy - one year on Cancer Cords Gone - one year on Dexter's cancer | |