International Childhood Cancer Day

International Childhood Cancer Day was marked this week. Please continue reading to find out more!

The International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations (ICCCPO), World Child Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) issued a joint statement to coincide with International Childhood Cancer Day (15 February) highlighting the fact that these organizations are joining forces in the fight against a lack of awareness of childhood cancer.

Although cancer in children is a small fraction of the global cancer burden most of them can be cured if prompt and essential treatment is available, approximately 80% of the deaths will occur in resource-constrained settings as appropriate treatment is not available or affordable.

While there have been great advances made in the treatment of childhood cancer and subsequent improvements in survival rates, it is unfortunate that this has not reached the majority of children diagnosed with cancer annually.

“To improve upon this situation, ICCCPO, World Child Cancer and UICC are developing international medical partnerships to improve diagnosis and treatment. Through the sharing of vital expertise and skills and the utilisation of valuable support from doctors in resource-rich countries, these combined efforts are already saving lives and reducing suffering.” says Julie Torode, deputy CEO, UICC.

In the developed world children on average have a 75% chance of surviving cancer, however the situation in low- and middle-income countries, which accounts for 80% of the global incidence of childhood cancer, is very different, with only 20% of those that do receive treatment surviving as appropriate treatment is not available or affordable.

“This year ICCCPO, UICC through the “My Child Matters” initiative and World Child Cancer will be supporting more than 40 projects in resource-constrained countries that will concentrate on the training of medical staff, the provision of infrastructure and the support of the ill child and their family,” says Gordon Morrison, chair of World Child Cancer.