September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month and we want our entire school community to Paint DeSoto Gold on September 29 by wearing gold to raise awareness of pediatric cancer.
Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 14. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 10,470 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022.
Although childhood cancers are rare, all caretakers, parents, and guardians should be aware of the signs and symptoms.
It is time to take your child to their physician to be checked out if they have the following signs or symptoms that do not go away:
- Unexplained paleness and loss of energy
- An unusual lump or swelling
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- 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
All members of the school community are asked to show your support by wearing gold.
If you or someone you know needs help in dealing with pediatric cancer, contact the American Cancer Society Helpline at 1.800.227.2345. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.