Cancer deeply affects not only those diagnosed, but also their families. Tragically, it impacts children of all ages. Luke Morin and Garrett Matthias were both just five years old when they died from cancer, reminding the world how cruel and unfair the disease can be.

Luke survived only 17 days after being diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), described as “one of the rarest and most aggressive childhood brain cancers with a zero percent survival rate.” His family says their son “was stollen from them” and now works to raise awareness and funding for research. Garrett fought a rare cancer for ten months and, knowing what was coming, even wrote his own obituary. He asked for a joyful farewell, and his parents honored that wish with a celebration of life instead of a funeral.

Their parents did nothing wrong. As the article notes, “Simply, cancer is cruel, and it’s sometimes genetic.” While cancer can’t always be prevented, doctors say reducing exposure to certain risks may help, especially for children.

Experts advise avoiding several items. Processed meats are classified by the WHO as a “Group 1 carcinogen.” Sugary drinks, which Dr. London calls “liquid death,” contribute to obesity and may contain harmful additives. Plastics with BPA or even “BPA-free” alternatives like BPS can disrupt hormones. Heavily fried or charred foods create chemicals linked to cancer, and talc-based baby products or those with formaldehyde may carry cancer risks.

Small, mindful choices can help protect children’s long-term health, even though no prevention is guaranteed.