Thread by @WHO

Today is International #ChildhoodCancer Day.
#Cancer is a leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Each year, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents of 0-19 years old develop cancer bit.ly/2NeFF8B

The most common types of #ChildhoodCancers include:
🔸 leukemias
🔸 brain cancers
🔸 lymphomas
🔸 solid tumours, such as neuroblastoma & Wilms tumours bit.ly/2NeFF8B

#cancer

Most #ChildhoodCancers can be cured with generic medicines & other forms of treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy.
Attention to physical and cognitive growth and nutrition are also important bit.ly/2NeFF8B

#cancer

The likelihood of surviving a diagnosis of #ChildhoodCancer changes depending on the country in which the child lives:
🔸 In high-income countries: more than 80% of children with #cancer are cured
Vs
🔸 In low- and middle-income countries: less than 30% are cured

The reasons for lower childhood #cancer survival rates in low- and middle-income countries incl.:
💔 delay in diagnosis
💔 inability to obtain an accurate diagnosis
💔 inaccessible therapy
💔 abandonment of treatment
💔 death from toxicity (side effects)
💔 avoidable relapse

When identified early, #cancer is more likely to respond to effective treatment & result in a greater probability of survival, less suffering and often less expensive & less intensive treatment bit.ly/2NeFF8B

#ChildhoodCancer

Family and health professionals should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the early stages of #ChildhoodCancer. These include:
❗️ Unexplained fever and weight loss
❗️ Severe headaches
❗️ Limb or bone pain

#Cancer

Palliative care relieves symptoms caused by #cancer and improves the quality of life of patients and their families.
Not all children with cancer can be cured, but relief of suffering is possible for everyone.

#ChildhoodCancer

In 2018, WHO launched, with the support of @StJudeResearch, the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, to provide leadership & technical assistance to governments to support them in building and sustaining high-quality childhood #cancer programmes. bit.ly/3dOWB3m

In December 2021, WHO & @StJudeResearch launched the Global Platform for Access to Childhood #Cancer Medicines, the first of its kind, to provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries