A childhood cancer diagnosis has a devastating impact on a family, but a new app in Spain aims to give both parents and children the practical and emotional support they need.
Paula Rodriguez is the creator of a Spanish app Vivire con un Cencer Infantil (Living with Childhood Cancer) that helps people to track childhood cancer symptoms. When your child is diagnosed with cancer, a lot of emotions accumulate, she said. Among them fear, uncertainty, anger, incomprehension and we are overwhelmed by a lot of data such as diagnoses, prognoses, treatments, surgeries and transfers to other hospitals.
The app aims to accompany and inform families throughout the treatment process.
“It all started with a bruise,” says Lebanese expat Rim Obeid, a Dubai-based mum of two whose eldest boy, Rafi, 3, is currently battling one of the most common childhood cancers, B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
“I noticed that he started getting small bruises, just like any other active child. However, with time, the bruises became more spread out across his body, on locations that are easily bumped during the day - such as his chest, under his eye, on his knee and hips…”
Rim took her then two-year-old son to the pediatrician for a check-up. “The doctor examined him from top to toe and said he seemed fine. But due to the frequency and size of the bruises, she said we should do some blood tests to see what was going on.”
Graphic Online
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.
Today Fabiano Theunissen is a very confident boy and lives comfortably with his glass eye. (Photo: Supplied)
She was devastated when her son was diagnosed with cancer. Paulette Fisher feared the worst when doctors broke the news, but it’s been almost a year since her little boy has received a clean bill of health. Now, Fabiano Theunissen from Hermanus is the picture of health, and the family have a little more to celebrate this International Childhood Cancer Day.
“For the first four years there was still the possibility that the cancer could return, but today he is completely free of cancer,” Paulette tells YOU.