By: Natasha Archary
Wednesday, 15 February marks International Childhood Cancer Day, and the South African National Department is joining the global community to raise awareness and improve understanding of childhood cancer.
The department says of the 400 000 children who are diagnosed with cancer annually, South Africa accounts for an estimated 1 500 children with cancer a year.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in high-income countries amongst children below the age of 15-years.
“Although cancer is relatively rare, the incidence rate has been increasing which may be due to awareness.
One of the contributing factors for this, is a lack of awareness and knowledge of the early warning signs. “
According to the department, the most common types of childhood cancers include leukaemia, lymphoma, brain, kidney and eye tumours.
The department says many children with cancer in low and middle income countries are either not diagnosed on time or referred too late for curative care.
CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA and the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group have initiated a programmed to disseminate information to empower the communities with knowledge about the early warning signs and the unique and complex challenges faced by children with cancer and their families.
The World Health Organization, governments, civil society organisations and health care workers are in partnership to meet the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) goals of a 60% overall survival in children and adolescents with cancer in low-and middle-income countries by 2030.
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