Cancer control legislation in the Philippines a step in the right direction to improve childhood cancer management
Cancer control legislation in the Philippines a step in the right direction to improve childhood cancer management 17 February 2021
Cancer is among the leading causes of death and disability in the Western Pacific. It affects people across different age groups, with children among the most vulnerable. In the Philippines, where an estimated 107 million people live, over 4700 children (aged 0 to 19 years) are expected to be diagnosed with cancer each year, with leukemia accounting for approximately 49% of childhood cancers. Other cancers affect the brain and nervous system (9.7%), lymph nodes (9%), retina (7.5%), kidney (3.4%), and bone and soft tissues, gonadal, and germ cell sites. Deaths from childhood cancer are estimated at 1700 each year.
15-02-2021
Photo courtesy of the Rogachev Center press service
Artists of the Bolshoi Theatre perform for child cancer patients of the Dmitry Rogachev Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
On International Childhood Cancer Day 2021, WHO/Europe highlights progressive ways to achieve better outcomes for children with cancer in the WHO European Region. The Russian Federation’s steps to merge paediatric haematology and paediatric oncology into one medical specialty is an inspiring example of how countries’ health and education systems can adapt to new methods and save children’s lives.
Childhood cancer: a different disease
Childhood cancers have fundamentally different characteristics and are being treated in different ways compared to “grown-up” oncological diseases. These cancer types are much more likely to be genetic and can develop before the child is even born.
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BY: Doreen Andoh
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The World is marking International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) today, February 15, and to emphasise the importance of the day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says Cancers in Children is the leading cause of death among children between zero and 19 years, with 300,000 new cases expected to be diagnosed each year globally.
Landmark
On the landmark 20th edition of the International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, Childhood Cancer International (CCI) and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) have unveiedl a joint three-year campaign, ‘Tree of Life’ concept and Advocacy Toolkit to amplify the message of hope and accelerate life-saving progress for young cancer patients worldwide.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of World Health Organization (WHO), and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have signed an.
iAfrica 2 months ago 3 min read
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Of the 800 to 1 000 children that are diagnosed with cancer in South Africa each year, more than half tragically go undiagnosed.
Dr Charlotte Ingram, Medical Director at the SA Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) says SA has among the highest childhood cancer mortality rates with two thirds of children never reaching a specialist treatment centre and when they do, their cancer is often at an advanced stage.
“Many childhood cancers are treatable with cure rates of between 70% and 80% in well-resourced countries, while in contrast, eight in ten African children with cancer die without access to adequate care. Despite SA having an established oncology healthcare service, its infrastructure is overburdened, which is further impeded by low cancer awareness in the primary healthcare setting and widespread service delivery challeng