International Childhood Cancer Day

Today, February 15^th is International Childhood Cancer Day.  The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) and the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations (ICCCPO) are launching a health advocacy campaign to help educate the public in recognising the early warning signs for childhood cancer. 

Worldwide, 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year and it is estimated that more than half (90,000) will die from the disease.  Clearly, these high death figures give cause for concern considering the fact that seventy percent of all childhood cancers are curable when diagnosed and treated early.

Statistics reveal that cancer is the second leading cause of death among children in developed countries.  The most common type of cancer in Europe, Americas and East Asia is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.  

One of the issues surrounding late detection of the disease is because symptoms of cancer often get interpreted as common childhood ailments, as Dr Gabriele Calaminus, President of SIOP points out.

Kenneth Dollman, President of ICCCPO says “By dinner time tonight, someone’s son, daughter, sister or brother, an estimated 440 children, will have been diagnosed with cancer, while 250 children from around the world would have succumbed to it”  

Figures from Cancer Research UK shows that 1,550 children are diagnosed with Cancer each year, of which around 260 children, under the age of 15, die as a result.

It has been acknowledged that children in wealthier countries have an eighty percent cancer survival rate, however, this figure is reversed for those living in poor socio-economic settings.  It is estimated that around eighty percent of children with cancer die due to late detection and limited access to appropriate treatment.     

"Delayed diagnosis significantly diminishes survival rates.  While in resource-rich countries, 8 out of 10 children survive, only 2 to 3 out of 10 children will survive in low and middle-income countries" explained Dollman. 

Today SIOP and ICCCPO, with its members from around the world will be reaching out to communities, schools, hospitals and the public to disseminate critical information about childhood cancer. 

For further information about childhood cancer, awareness, symptoms and support please visit the Be Child Cancer Aware at http://www.bechildcanceraware.org/.