Talking to Kids About Cancer
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of many related diseases that all have to do with cells. Cells are very small building blocks that make up all living things, including the human body. There are billions of cells in each person’s body and they work together in a controlled way to keep us healthy and strong.
Cancer happens when cells grow too quickly and are not controlled by our bodies — these cells, called cancer cells, won’t stop growing unless something is done to stop them. If they continue to grow out of control, they can hurt the normal cells that are supposed to be in our bodies and then the person can get very sick.'
Why do kids get cancer?
When a person under the age of 18 gets cancer, it is called childhood or pediatric cancer. In the United States, about 17,000 children every year are found to have cancer. Doctors do not know why some children get cancer. They do know that children can’t “catch” cancer from someone else — it is not contagious. So, if you know someone with cancer, you should not be afraid to be around them — you can play and talk to them just like anyone else. Although most children with cancer will get better, cancer is a very serious disease and doctors have to work very hard to find the right ways to get rid of cancer in children. So, when a child gets cancer, the doctors will give special cancer medicines or have the person get a special surgery to remove the cancer cells. Most of the time, the cancer goes away and does not come back! Sometimes the cancer does not go away and the child gets sicker and even dies. This is what happened to Alex Scott, the little girl who started Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
