It is important that we learn how to keep ourselves safe, happy and healthy. We must care for our bodies, and the lives of others.

<Bone and Joint cancer>

Among 15500 children's cancer diagnoses, 6% were bone and joint cancer. 
{Bone and join cancer occur by the growth of abnormal cells in bones. The very first symptom of it is the pain of bone.} 

http://www.curesearch.org/Childhood-Cancer-Statistics/

<Increment of the annual survival rates>

According to Cancer Research UK, the survival rates of children are increasing year by year. Nowadays, thanks to the improvement of treatments that grow astonishingly day by day, large increases in survival for many childhood cancers are turned out. For example, to compare with 1966-1970 and 1981-1985, the survival rate had increased from 9% to 61%. Thus, given the situation, in our very close future there would be much easier cure for cancer that would eventually increase much more survival rates especially for our children.

Our KIS would always cheer for kids to win the cancer! <3

  Did you know that childhood cancer is the first disease killer of children, in which more children die each year through cancer than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined? Although cancer is still a deadly disease to children, the hopeful fact is that there is a great increase shown in the survival rate of children since the 1960s. Due to the support from some public organizations and different individuals, the condition of childhood cancer has been improved. As one can see in the graph above, almost 78% are able to survive for five years, which is used to be only 28% of survival in the late 1960s. 

This is the result of active supports from people all over the world, which should be continuously progressing as time goes by. I believe that one individual’s action is the very thing that builds up the world. In this sense, the first step of coping with cancer deals with having an interest and being aware of cancer. 

No matter how small or grand, your interest and donation will be both great emotional and financial support for children all over the world who are suffering from cancer. Your support doesn’t necessarily have to be immense; different supports like donating handmade hat, actively participating in volunteer works, and offering words of encouragement, will actually become a power for children to withstand cancer. Think this way: cancer not could only happen to others, but also to myself. And remember that you can bring the change, hope, and happiness to others by your small actions. 

source: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/childhoodcancer/survival/childhood-cancer-survival-statistics

A lack of important fiber and phytonutrients found 

in vegetables have been linked to certain types of cancer.

2. Overeat

Experts concluded that cancers of the colon, breast (postmenopausal), 

endometrium kidneyand esophagus are 

all associated with obesity.

3. Charbroiled and boiled

 Compounds found in charred foods have been linked to breast cancer in women

4. Lack of Vitamin D

There is a study that shows a connection between lower levels of vitamin D and cancer.

15 minutes of sunlight a day will help you to prevent cancer.

5. Lack of Omega fatty acid

When we eat a lot of processed foods, that our body can't get en

ough of the right types of Omega fatty acids, which is good for o

ur body. So scientists are trying to study their absence in relation 

to increased risk of cancer.

6.Processed Foods

I believe people all know processed foods are bad. 

Processed foods cause slews of health problems and have been linked 

to an increased risk of several cancers, including lung cancer.

7.Diet soda

Artificial colors in soda can link to cancer.

8.Pesticides

Some pesticides were removed by market because it cause cancer. However

there is a recent study that other pesticides also cause cancer.

1. Don’t use tobacco

- It is important to know about my body condition. We have to pay more attention to check up our body frequently to prevent not only cancer but also other diseases. There is no one who can take care about our body. Just a 30-minutes of exercise a day can improve your health a lot.

I am not a victim. I am an angry survivor.

-Nina Bowden

I don’t know, to me those doesn’t seem to work well. These things above do not usually come out from heart.

Here, I am writing the letter, hoping this letter reaches to you.

Feeling of death coming closer, fear of giving up many adventures that you haven’t tried yet, frustration, resentment, and worries... worries of losing the loved one.

If I were you, I cannot stand that nor endure that. Your pain shows how strong your soul is.  

Somebody says the pain is like thousands of needle pricking the thousands of cells. No one could endure that pain.

But let's not give up. You could say the cure of disease doesn’t matter what you hope and want, but it really does. 

Paulo Coelho said “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

People, once in a life, face with destined crisis. Nobody can win at the first time. People fall down and collapse. But this crisis doesn’t ask you to win. It asks you to rise again. It is testing your rise after your fall. When you fall down, deep inside, you could see the boy who is your pure ego. You will be yourself finally. Will you help him, like your parents do to their child? Please?

Why don’t you read some books, even comic books. I recommend you “Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. Why don’t you go out sometimes, to feel the air, wind touching your face. 

People need you who overcomes their crisis proudly, and rises again. Will you? I need you. I love you. 

See you. 

P.S.

I want this letter reaches to you. Please helps me to inform this letter more.

She is in this video from the Seattle Children's Hospital. She is the one carrying the "fighter" sign

Mrs. Karper (5th Grade Teacher at KIS)

(You can support researches on cancer by donation! Read other articles to learn more)

A population-based study found broccolis contains certain chemicals that may reduce the risk of colorectal or other cancers.(cancer.org) But most kids dislike broccolis, me as well. But don't worry, because there are many alternatives that will prevent you from eating broccoli.

1. Eat some sauerkraut

Basically, broccolis are one kind of cabbages, so uncooked sauerkraut also contain cancer-preventing compounds like broccoli. (Sauerkraut) I know kids don't really like cabbages, but it's better than broccolis, in my opinion.

2. Have some blueberries better than blackberries.

Good news, we have some sweet foods that may prevent cancer; blueberries have antioxidant power that neutralize free radicals, which may prevent cancer.

3. Want to drink some beer? You have a reason now.

Researchers at the German cancer research center have discovered beer contains a molecule that may prevent breast and prostate cancers. (dailymail.co.uk) Unfortunately, research is currently at the very first step of it, but they've found xanthohumol from beer, which might prevent cancer. Now you have reason to drink beer! But remember, one glass, not two, not three, not infinite. If you drink too much, it could cause some cancer.

Citation(broccoli): http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/broccoli Citation(Sauerkraut): https://www.wellbeingjournal.com/sauerkraut-uncooked-prevents-cancer/

Citation(Beer): http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-12-09-beer-prostate-cancer_N.htm

Citiation(Beer, dailymail.co.uk): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1243754/Why-beer-latest-hope-fight-cancer.html

Read more from:

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that can usually be found from children. It is one of the most common cancer in children. Lymphoma occurs when lymphocytes becomes uncontrolled cell with bigger multiplication. Lymphoma is distributed over the entire body, so if the cancer spreads through a Lymphatic vessel to the entire body, it would be difficult to treat for cancer. 

Where does lymphoma spread through firstly?

It spreads through the immune system which are lymphoid tissues and lymphocytes. 

What is lymphocyte? 

Lymphocytes are white blood cells which are involved in protection in body. They move through the vessel that make up the lymphatic system which is the immune system. 

Why does it occur?

The reason that Lymphoma occurs is undiscovered clearly in the medical world People who work in specific chemicals and are congenital from family are easier to get Lymphoma.

How many do children get Lymphoma? 

Children get Lymphoma in fixed rate randomly, when they are born. (About 10-15 kids get this cancer out of 100,000) Badly, there is no prevention for this cancer because it is congenital and reason is undiscovered until now.

Types of Lymphoma

There are two types of lymphomas which are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

Statistics

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for about 4% of all cancers.

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for 2014 are:

• About 70,800 people (38,270 males and 32,530 females) will be diagnosed with NHL. This includes both adults and children.
• About 18,990 people will die from this cancer (10,470 males and 8,520 females).

If you want to read more about types of cancer in Children, go to

The National Cancer Institute, the website by the government, provides a lot of information about the cancer: Cancer Topic, Clinical Trials, Cancer Statistics, Research & Funding and News. 

Cancer Topic: Specific Types of Treatment

• Side Effects!!
• The Fact Sheets
• Collection of Audio Files 
• What to expect and can do to take care!

There are variety choices to treat cancers like surgery or radiation therapy, but specifically for children Chemotherapy is most likely to be used.

Many parents fear from the possibilities of unpleasant side effects from chemotherapy, however, those are mostly TEMPORARY and able to CONTROL.

• Fatigue : physical or mental tiredness
• risk of infection
• risk of bleeding
• nausea : feeling of vomiting 
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• diarrhea 
• blood disorders
• etc

HOWEVER, those usually goes away after the treatment is finished. 

The main reason why I list those side effects is to show its very than late effects of cancer which are life-long effects like reproduction, growth, and hormone problems.

There are a lot of palliative care, or supportive care that helps to manage those side effects. 

PLEASE do not be reluctant for treatment only because you fear the side effects. There will be doctors and health care team who have professional skills and experiences to help you or your child to overcome everything. 

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/childhood-cancer/treatment

Such difficulty in diagnosing brain cancer makes the cancer even more dangerous. Therefore, it is very important for you to know more about the cancer and get familiar with it.

Several following statistics will help you learn more about the brain cancer; the most common types of brain cancer, most common symptoms and likeliness to get misdiagnosed.

common types of brain cancer - among 3817 patients

1. Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): 14.75%

2. Anaplastic Astrocytoma: 13.13%

3. Acoustic Neuroma: 12.92%

common symptoms - among 14798 patients

1. headaches: 59.24%

2. strange feeling in their head: 43.78%

3. problems with vision: 43.78%

4. weakened arms and legs: 43.59%

misdiagnosis rate - among 2366 patients

1. misdiagnosed at first: 59.04%

2. diagnosed correctly: 40.96%

Hopefully, these statistics can help you be more aware of the dangerousness of the brain cancer or brain tumor. There is a great number of possible symptoms of brain cancer. Therefore, it is very important for you to be careful of some of the most common symptoms of the cancer. If you have severe headaches along with strange feelings in you head, problems with vision and weakened arms and legs, it is suggested for you to go and see the doctor right away for the chance of having gotten brain cancer. It is always the best to prevent beforehand or to be sensitive to you body condition so that you can remain healthy without having severe illnesses.

Stay informed, Be Healthy!

★KIS-Jeju wishes everyone's well-being without the threat of cancers★

source: 

https://www.virtualtrials.com/brain-cancer-symptoms.cfm?gclid=CImR3JietLwCFU1QpAodWUMALw

http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=12001

"No child should die in the dawn of life."

-St. Jude founder Danny Thomas

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children, but the causes of childhood cancers are usually unknown and hard to prevent. According to American Cancer Society, about 10,450 children(under the age of 15) in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in 2014. About 1,350 children younger than 15 years old are expected to die from cancer. About 12% of children who are diagnosed with cancer can not survive. This greatly aggrieves the families who have lost loved ones in cancers. The most common types of childhood cancers are acute lymphocytic leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, kidney, acute myelogenous leukemia, bone tumors and etc. Among the 7 major types of childhood cancers, leukemias and brain cancers are the main childhood cancers.

Overall, the main types of childhood cancers's survival rate are:

Leukemia  

Acute lymphocytic90%

Acute myeloid63.90%

Lymphomas  

Hodgkin lymphoma97.40%

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma84.50%

Bone and joint 73.90%

Brain and ONS 75.10%

Neuroblastoma 76.40%

Soft tissue 76.10%

Wilms tumor 89.80%

If you want to know more about childhood cancer statistics, read more from:

http://www.curesearch.org/Childhood-Cancer-Statistics/

February 4th is the World Cancer day. I hope people around the world to understand the general knowledge about childhood cancers and participate for support on children with cancers:)

There are four main types of leukemia: a) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) b) Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) c) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) d) Chronic myeloid leukemia

Childhood leukemia itself is a rare disease; however, since 1 out of 3 cancers is leukemia, it is the most common cancer in children. Among those four types of leukemia, 3 out of 4 leukemias are ALL, and most of the other cases are AML. ALL occurs more among white children than African-American and Asian-American children, and among boys than girls while AML is diagnosed equally in boys and girls. Current 5-year survival rate of ALL for children has increased up to more than 85% and the rate of AML has increased up to the range of 60% to 70 %.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/index

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/tc/leukemia-topic-overview

http://cancer.about.com/od/leukemia/a/leukemia_hub.htm

Hereditary cancer refers to cancers occurred because of inherited gene mutation. These cancers are linked to a family history and may be caused by an inherited gene mutation; Breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon are some of these cancers. For children, retinoblastoma(tumor starts from eyes) and Li-fraumeni syndrome are the most common inherited gene mutation

If your family has many of these categories, you should consider whether cancer is occurring in a family.

*Many cases of an uncommon or rare type of cancer 

*Cancers occurring at younger ages than usual 

*More than one type of cancer in a single person 

*Cancers occurring in both of a pair of organs 

*More than one childhood cancer in a set of siblings

Specific and professional information can be found in the following link:

:http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/geneticsandcancer/heredity-and-cancer

People who suffer from hereditary cancer are not hard to find. Even around me. Even around you. It can happen to anybody. Therefore, it is extremely important for all of us to raise awareness for cancer. Let’s be aware of causing factors of cancer and stay healthy :)

    However, the 11-hours-long strenuous operation was fortunately successful; the surgeons succeeded to flawlessly eliminate cancer cells, and so was hepatectomy. The preoperative condition and postoperative result of my grandma were announced at International Hospital Federation (IHF), a colleague of World Health Organization (WHO) in Spain. Moreover, the head surgeon of this project subsequently established the first biliary tract cancer hospital in Korea.

    People who have or have been suffering from heinous diseases including cancers have high potential to release their strings. I who have seen and mediately experienced the anguish, these phenomena are totally understandable. On the contrary, though I can’t vividly remember, my father told me that my grandma was always vibrant while receiving treatment. By this, I acknowledged the fact that there is always a way out if one sincerely believes in or desires something.

    Fighting with an inevitable enemy called cancer at young age; it would be one of the toughest event in your entire life. I again, who have witnessed my grandma being bald, truly anticipate your full recovery. I have no right push you around. But, it doesn't matter if the possibility is bare; what matters is your will. Believe in 1% like I did, like my family did, and like my grandma did. Good morning my friends, I'm jealous you're already mature.

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” - John Quincy Adams

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnquincy387094.html#cpdp3wwTr6GDvMDw.99

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w75xWhtQ3Lk

She is a precious, honor-roll in gifted/AP classes student.  

-Ms. Lawrence (Elementary Teacher at KIS)

-Ms. Lawrence (Elementary Teacher at KIS)

Most childhood cancer are caused by overweight and genetic problems.

Types of common cancer among children

1. Leukemia

2. Neuroblastoma

3. Lymphoma

4. Bone cancers

5. Retinoblastoma

Leukemia: This is the most common childhood cancer. It takes 31% among all children. It is cancers of the bone marrow and blood.

Neuroblastoma: This cancer only occurs to infants which usually occurs under the age of 10. This causes bone pain and fever.

Lymphoma: These cancers start in certain cells of the immune system called lymphocytes. There are two types of Lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma, and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Bone cancer: Primary bone cancers occur most often in older children and teens, but they can develop at any age. They account for about 4% of childhood cancers.

Retinoblastoma: This is the cancer of eyes. This accounts 3% of childhood cancer. Pupil often looks white or pink.

These signs can be a warning or starting for the cancer.

• An unusual lump or swelling
• Unexplained paleness and loss of energy
• Easy bruising
• An ongoing pain in one area of the body
• Limping
• Unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away
• Frequent headaches, often with vomiting
• Sudden eye or vision changes
• Sudden unexplained weight loss

Child cancer should be getting much more attention. While the average number of years of life lost to cancer amounts to 15 for adults, its 71 years for children. National Cancer Institute had a total budget of $4.8 billion for fiscal year 2013(3). However, childhood cancers only received only 4% of U.S. federal funding for cancer research(3). The drug development funding from pharmaceutical companies are all towards adult cancer, but almost none for child cancer(3). The focus on child cancer should not be neglected if not focused on. Children are our future as the human race and its crucial for us to remember this fact. 

In one of the most well-known forms of treatment, chemotherapy, it is easier to treat child cancer because most of their cancer cells tend to grow faster, which makes chemotherapy much easier. Children also recover much faster than adults from a high dose of chemotherapy(5). Other than chemotherapy, there are various treatments available to cancer patients. First of all there is the surgery, which removes the tumor(4). This is an easy choice of a benign cancer. There is also radiotherapy, the use of radiation to destroy cancer cells. It is used to ease pain, before surgery in order to shrink the size of the tumor or after surgery to kill of any remaining cancer cells(1). Another is stem cell and bone marrow transplants, this type of treatment is especially used in leukemia, a type of cancer especially prevalent in children. Finally, there is immunotherapy, taking specific drugs in order to target particular cancer cells(4). This type of treatment represents important progress in cancer research. In a different approach, immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize cancer cells as non-self instead of self. 

Additionally, there are countless other ways being researched. For example, new cancer treatment drug is undergoing trials in Australia. Called TR100, it forces the cancer cells to self-destruct by destroying the two tropomyosins which are crucial in cell reproduction(2). 

1. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/about/why-radiotherapy-is-used

2. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/73/16/5169.full

3. http://www.stbaldricks.org/filling-the-funding-gap/

4.http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Childrenscancers/Treatingchildrenscancers/Treatmentoverview.aspx

5. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerinchildren/detailedguide/cancer-in-children-treating-how-are-childhood-cancers-treated

Gelacio Kwon

Period 7

Mrs. Flowers

First, the members of a surgeon team depends on the stage and type of cancer a child is suffering from. Children who have been diagnosed as cancer are primarily members of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a group that “conducts a spectrum of clinical and translational research trials for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer”. Moreover, due to the fact that cancers in childhood in particular have to be treated cautiously, the treatment includes not only nurses and doctors, but also many professionals. They include:

1. Pediatric oncologists: doctors who specialize in using medicines to treat children with cancer
2. Pediatric surgeons: doctors who specialize in performing surgery in children
3. Radiation oncologists: doctors who specialize in using radiation to treat cancer
4. Pediatric oncology nurses: nurses who specialize in caring for children with cancer
5. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants: nurses and other professionals who are specially trained and licensed to practice medicine alongside doctors

Similarly, the options of treatments vary on the type and extent of the cancer. They include:

1. Surgery - Goal - removal of the entire tumor & margin

- In order to flawlessly remove the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments are needed

2. Chemotherapy - Usage of drugs to kill cancer cells

- Given by mouth / through the bloodstream

- Side effects : fatigue, increased risk of infection, increased risk of bleeding, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea

3. Radiation Therapy : - Usage of x-rays to kill cancer cells

- ex) external-beam radiation therapy

- consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time

4. Immunotherapy : - Confer the body immunity to fight against the cancer

- ex) cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and interferons

5. Stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation : - diseased bone marrow is replaced by highly specialized cells, called hematopoietic stem cells

- 2 types of s.c.t

• 1) allogeneic (ALLO)
• 2) autologous (AUTO)

6. Palliative/supportive care : - Reliving person’s symptoms & side effects

Sources

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerinchildren/detailedguide/cancer-in-children-treating-how-are-childhood-cancers-treated

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/childhood-cancer/treatment

http://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/

The basic idea is the Secondhand smoke kills people who don't smoke, and makes others sick. Most nonsmokers have been shown to increase their risk of lung cancer.

More than 10% of pregnant women smoke. Also Pregnant teens(about ages 15 to170) smoke at the highest rate, with more than 20% smoking in the past month, (by American Cancer Society).

Effects-Babies born to smokers

- Lung cancer

- have a slightly higher risk of heart defects  

- cleft lip or palate

"-those who smoke during and after pregnancy are 3 to 4 times  more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome than babies born to non-smoking mothers" -American Cancer Society

* If women have mood disorders such as depression, then the women might find it much harder to quit smoking

- If a baby is born, nicotine and other bad substances in tobacco smoke can affect to mom such as passes on through breast milk, and that affects to baby.

Secondhand smoke can also affect to their children(an asthma attack), "make asthma symptoms worse, and even cause new cases of asthma in kids who had not shown symptoms before. "

" More than 40% of children who go to the emergency room for asthma live with smokers. A severe asthma attack can be deadly. "

Don't smoke

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/womenandsmoking/women-and-smoking-health-of-others