The end of September sees the end of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. While we move into the next month of significance in the healthcare calendar, this doesn’t stop the fact that more children will face a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Medical Affairs Therapeutic Area Lead for Oncology at global pharmaceutical company, Takeda, Dr Jan Pinchevsky, believes awareness around childhood cancers is still too low. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 400 000 children and adolescents develop cancer every year. According to CANSA, in South Africa, between 800 to 1000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually. However, it is estimated that half of the children with cancer in South Africa go undiagnosed, which Pinchevsky says should be combatted with awareness.
“Unfortunately, in developing countries like South Africa, care is not as easily accessible,” says Pinchevsky. “This is often due to a lack of diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis – which are all symptoms of poor awareness.”
A lack of education and awareness of how cancers develop in children means that many children are diagnosed when it is too late. “When cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, the chances of successful treatment may be lowered.” With an ailing healthcare system, and access to care for advanced cancers not always in reach for many, Pinchevsky says early diagnosis may potentially provide better outcomes.
“In South Africa, there is a well-established oncology healthcare system although cancer awareness is the primary focus, the healthcare sector is poor amidst various service delivery issues.” Pinchevsky says we would rather save our children’s lives by becoming more aware of childhood cancers and how they differ from those that develop in adults.
“Childhood cancers are more aggressive and grow more rapidly. Because of this, they are often diagnosed too late. This is why we need to be more vigilant with our children and focus on early diagnosis.”According to Pinchevsky, the most common childhood cancers in South Africa are leukaemia, lymphoma, brain tumours, cancer of the kidneys and soft tissue sarcomas (i.e. tumours that begin in the connective tissue).“Childhood cancers are often more aggressive than adult cancers and may progress more rapidly.
However, the good news is that with some exceptions, childhood cancers may respond better to treatments in comparison with adult cancers. This is why we have to be acutely aware and ready to diagnose and treat our children because time is of the essence,” advises Pinchevsky.
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