Mission Statement

Phoebe’s Phriends is a non-profit 501c(3) corporation with a mission to find a cure for pediatric cancer. We focus specifically on Osteosarcoma (a rare bone cancer affecting about 400 children a year) and Pediatric Leukemia. We also work to raise awareness about pediatric cancer, one of the most underfunded areas in all of cancer research.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the U.S. About 700 kids per day will be diagnosed with cancer, yet less than 5% of the federal government funding for cancer research goes to Pediatric Cancer Research.

But, there is exciting and novel research happening and funding is needed to bring trials to fruition. This is where we can use your help.

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Childhood Cancer Facts

  • Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer in children.
  • Sadly, over 2,300 children with cancer die each year.
  • Every school day 46 children are diagnosed.
  • Cancer kills more children than any other disease, more than Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes and Pediatric AIDS combined.
  • 1 in 330 children will have the disease by age 20.
  • 80% of children have metastasized cancer at the time of their diagnosis.
  • Cancer symptoms in children – fever, swollen glands, anemia, bruises and infection – are often suspected to be, and at the early stages are treated as, other childhood illnesses.
  • Even with insurance coverage, a family will have out-of pocket expenses of about $40,000 per year, not including travel.

Childhood Research Funding

  • Over the past 20 years, only TWO new cancer drug has been approved for pediatric use.

  • The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget for 2003 was $4.6 billion. Of that, breast cancer received 12%, prostate cancer received 7%, and all 12 major groups of pediatric cancers combined received less than 3%.
  • In 2005, the American Cancer Society provided only 2.5% of funded grants, or 1.85% of dollars spent on research to pediatric cancer.