International Childhood Cancer Day

Key Finds & Facts **

1. Each year, about 4 lakh children across the world & adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. More than 50,000 new childhood cancer cases are reported in India.

2. The most typical childhood cancers are Leukaemia, brain cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Ewing sarcoma & solid tumours, such as Neuroblastoma & Wilms' Tumor.

3. More than 80% of children with cancer are cured in high-income countries since comprehensive services are generally accessible and affordable.

5. However, less than 30% are cured in low and middle-income countries. 

6. Childhood cancers are generally not preventable & identified through screening

6. Most childhood cancers can be cured with generic medicines and other forms of treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy. Treatment of childhood cancer can be made cost-effective in all income settings. 

What causes cancer in children? **

1. Current data suggest that approx. 10% of all childhood cancer cases have shown a genetic predisposition.

2. Other common risk factors which cause cancer include HIV, Epstein Barr virus & Malaria. 

How do we survive childhood cancer? ** 

Since it is not possible to prevent childhood cancer, the most effective strategy is to: 

1. Reduce the brden of cancer in children.

2. Focus on a prompt & correct diagnosis.

3. Follow affordable, effective, evidence-based therapy with tailored supportive care. 

What can be done? # 

Early Diagnosis & Treatment: An accurate, timely diagnosis is essential to treat children with cancer because each cancer requires a specific treatment regimen that may include surgery, radiotherapy, & chemotherapy.^^

1. Awareness of symptoms by families and primary care providers

2. Appropriate diagnosis and staging (determining the extent to which cancer has spread)

3. Access to prompt & affordable treatment. 

Palliative Care: Core component of comprehensive multidisciplinary care, starting with the diagnosis & continuing throughout the treatment. It can be delivered through community & home-based care providing pain relief & psychosocial support to patients & their families. 

Let us stand with the suffering children raise awareness of the “Right care at the right time by the right team".^$

References:

https://bit.ly/3Ja6Cpq, https://bit.ly/34rvs5o **

https://bit.ly/3J9QCUA #

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/34850^^

https://bit.ly/3LksTmw​$​