8 Myths vs. Realities of Childhood Cancer

What Families Wish the World Knew

Childhood cancer brings families into a world they never asked to enter — one filled with new terms, new fears, and a thousand assumptions from the outside looking in.
But here’s the truth:

Children are not defined by their diagnosis.
They are defined by their courage, their curiosity, their laughter, their love, and the way they keep dreaming even in the hardest moments.

Today, we want to gently clear the fog around childhood cancer — not with statistics or fear, but with understanding. These myths are real. The realities are stronger. And somewhere in between is the heart of why the Childhood Cancer Hall exists at all.

MYTH 1

“Childhood cancer is caused by something the child did.”

Reality:
A child does nothing to cause cancer.
In most cases, the cause of childhood cancer is unknown — and it is never the child’s fault. Nothing they ate, played with, touched, or enjoyed caused their diagnosis.

Children deserve freedom from blame. They deserve compassion, clarity, and care.

MYTH 2

“Childhood cancer is always fatal.”

Reality:
Childhood cancer is serious, but not always terminal.
Many children go into remission, grow up, and live long, full, joy-filled lives. Treatment has come a long way, and hope is very real.

And even for families facing the toughest diagnoses, courage and love remain the lead story.

MYTH 3

“There is no cure for childhood cancer.”

Reality:
There is no single cure for every type of childhood cancer — but many children respond incredibly well to treatment.
Every year, more children enter remission because of advances in medicine, research, and early detection.

Hope is not wishful thinking.
Hope is progress.

MYTH 4

“Childhood cancer is contagious.”

Reality:
Childhood cancer cannot be caught, shared, or passed from person to person. It is not contagious in any way.
You cannot “catch” cancer from a child — but you can catch their courage, their kindness, and their incredible way of seeing the world.

MYTH 5

“There is nothing you can do to help.”

Reality:
There is so much you can do.
You can show up with love, laughter, support, errands, rides, meals, or simply a warm presence in a hard moment.
You can include the child. Celebrate them. Sit with them. Listen. Bring light into a room that may feel heavy.

No act is too small.
In fact, the smallest acts often matter most.

MYTH 6

“Childhood cancer comes from a poor lifestyle or diet.”

Reality:
Unlike many adult cancers, childhood cancers are not strongly linked to lifestyle, diet, or environmental choices.
Children do not “cause” their cancer by anything they ate, did, or didn’t do.

This is a disease of biology — not behavior.

MYTH 7

“Childhood cancer is always terminal.”

Reality:
Survival rates have improved dramatically over the past few decades.
Some cancers remain very difficult to treat, but many children survive, thrive, and step into futures full of possibility.

Every child’s story is unique — and every story deserves to be honored.

MYTH 8

“If one child has cancer, the siblings are at higher risk.”

Reality:
Most childhood cancers are not hereditary.
In the vast majority of cases, siblings are not at increased risk beyond that of any other child.

Families carry enough worry.
This is one fear we can gently lift off their shoulders.

Why These Realities Matter

The more we understand childhood cancer, the more compassion we offer — and the less isolation families feel.
Children facing cancer are not defined by statistics or misconceptions.
They are defined by their stories, their joy, their bravery, their dreams.

And that’s exactly why the Childhood Cancer Hall exists:

• To honor their courage.

• To carry their legacy.

• To make sure their light keeps going.

A Gentle Invitation

If you want to go deeper into the heart of this movement — into the stories of two brothers, one dog, and the legacy that sparked the Hall — we invite you to explore the book that started it all:

DREAM BIG — The Hall of Champions

Two Boys, One Dog, and A Legacy of Hope for Children Living with Cancer
By Michael Velázquez

It’s a story for families.
A story for kids.
A story for anyone who believes courage deserves a place to live forever.