03/09/2026
💛 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 💛
When we talk about childhood cancer, we often focus on the hospital stays and the active treatments. But the data and the daily reality for families in Ireland shows that the journey is much longer and more complex.
Here is a look at the reality of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer in Ireland today:
📊 The Statistics:
🔹 Every year, an average of 369 children, adolescents, and young adults (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland.
🔹 Approximately 200 of these diagnoses are in children under the age of 16.
🔹 The most common diagnoses in this age group include brain and central nervous system tumours, leukaemias, and lymphomas.
🔹 Thanks to incredible advances in care, survival rates are steadily climbing.
🎗️ The Hidden Impact: While increasing survival rates are a reason for immense hope, the end of hospital treatment does not mean the end of the cancer journey.
Once the visible signs of cancer and its treatment fade, many children and their families are left carrying an invisible load. The emotional, cognitive, psychological, and physical impacts of both the disease and the intensive treatments often persist for years. This can make the return to "normal" life, school, and friendships incredibly draining.
This month, campaigns like Childhood Cancer Ireland's Things We Carry are highlighting this exact issue, the unseen toll of surviving childhood cancer. Families rely heavily on ongoing clinical psychology, play therapy, and p*er support long after the hospital visits end.
Awareness is the first step toward true understanding. Let’s stand with survivors and their families this September by recognising the full picture of childhood cancer. 💛
