Spotlight on Childhood Cancer Awareness: Golden Ribbon Illuminates the Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
In the Region of Murcia, an awareness drive is underway, spearheaded by Afacmur, an association of families of children with cancer. The campaign, titled 'Back to School with Cancer', is coordinated by the Spanish Federation of Families of Children with Cancer and involves 22 associations across Spain.
The campaign focuses on the importance of education for children during their recovery from cancer. It aims to remind society of the need for continued progress in treatment and support for children with cancer, as childhood cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death in the 1-14 age group in Spain.
According to the Spanish Federation of Families of Children with Cancer, approximately 1,500 children aged 0-18 are diagnosed with cancer each year in Spain. The cumulative lifetime risk of developing cancer among children aged 0-14 in certain Spanish regions is about 0.29 per cent for boys and 0.23 per cent for girls.
Leukaemia is the most common type of childhood cancer, representing about 30 per cent of cases, followed by lymphomas (12-15 per cent), brain and central nervous system tumours (20-22 per cent), and solid tumours (outside of CNS) such as neuroblastoma, soft tissue sarcomas, bone tumours, and renal tumours.
Mortality rates for childhood cancers have been declining, especially for leukaemia and brain tumours. Survival rates for childhood cancers in Spain have improved substantially, with five-year survival rates over 80-85 per cent in many reports.
The Department of Social Policy, Families, and Equality in Murcia has shown its support for the campaign by displaying a large golden ribbon, a symbol of childhood cancer awareness, on its main building.
The campaign highlights the challenges faced by children when illness keeps them out of the classroom, and emphasizes that education is both a right and a vital part of their recovery. Afacmur, along with 22 other associations across Spain, is working to ensure young patients can keep up with their studies.
The incidence rates for children up to 14 years old are estimated at around 155-156 cases per million children per year. The incidence for children and adolescents (0-19) in the Valencian Community is about 176 cases per million per year.
The 'Back to School with Cancer' campaign in the Region of Murcia is part of a larger effort to raise awareness and support for children with cancer across Spain. The campaign serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for research, treatment, and support for these young patients.
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