The Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act would use the national census to determine how many federal cancer research dollars go towards cures for children and teens.
“According to the 2010 census numbers, 24 percent of the US population is under the age of 18. We’ll boost the level of federal investment in pediatric cancer research from that 4 percent, to 24 percent. A 500 percent increase,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “The kids in the pediatric ward are getting the short end of the stick. Every year about twelve drugs are developed in the United States and approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult cancers. However, since 1978 there have been just six drugs total developed and approved by the FDA for pediatric cancers.”
A 2018 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 15,000 cases of pediatric cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. New Jersey ranks third among states with the most recorded cases.
“Kids and teenagers are unable to impact direct change because we can’t vote,” said 17-year-old Sean O’Malley, a Leukemia survivor and patient at Hackensack-Meridian children’s hospital. “I’m hopeful that as more people are educated about this issue, they will work to increase funding for pediatric cancer research.”
Health officials say pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children across the United States.
“Even with all of the progress that’s been made, pediatric cancer is still the leading cause of death by disease in children,” said Dr. Derek Hanson, program head for pediatric neuro-oncology with Hackensack-Meridian. “There’s no single illness more likely to take our children from us than a brain tumor. We look at an 80 percent survival rate but that still means that one in every five children that walk through our door does not have a cure available to them.”