16 Feb 15th February is International Childhood Cancer Day. 💛The Focus in 2024 continues to be ‘Better Survival – Reducing the Survival Gap’. On this day, we highlight the vital role of parents, as well as family doctors and paediatricians, in the early detection of childhood cancers. No one is more ready to invest in their children’s well-being than parents. 👨👩👧👧By getting to know the early signs and symptoms of certain cancers and looking out for them, you could save your child’s life.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents worldwide; Every year, more than 400,000 children and adolescents below 20, are diagnosed with cancer. The rate of survival depends on the region, with 80% survival in most High Income Countries but as low as 20% only in Low and Middle Income Countries.
The impact of childhood cancer translates into years of life lost, more significant inequalities, and economic difficulties. This situation can and should change.
It is crucial to know the early signs and symptoms of certain cancers and stay on the lookout for them in your children.
In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, leukaemia was the most common cancer among children and adolescents aged 0–19 years in 2022. An unexplained high fever is the most common sign of leukaemia. It is also a common sign of lymphoma. Retinoblastoma, a tumour of the eye, is another common cancer in children. It is critical to find this tumour in its early stages to prevent blindness. Eye enlargement is the most common sign. Brain tumours are also fairly common in children. Signs and symptoms to look out for include headaches, developmental delays, and an increase in head circumference in infants.
International Childhood Cancer Day is not just about raising awareness and expressing support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families. This day is also a call to each of us to play a part in the fight against childhood cancer.
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because one death is too many.
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