Warriors and Survivors - 96

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 96

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen. 

15th February, an International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families.

Every year, more than 400,000 children and adolescents below 20, are diagnosed with cancer. The rate of survival depends on the region, with 80% survival in most High-Income Countries but as low as 20% only in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. In Pakistan, it is still between 20 to 25%.

The Target Goal of the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative is to eliminate all pain and suffering of children fighting cancer and achieve at least 60% survival for all children diagnosed with cancer around the world by 2030.This represents an approximate doubling of the current cure rate so that an additional one million children’s lives may be saved over the next decade.

The day promotes increased appreciation and deeper understanding of issues and challenges relevant to childhood cancer and impacting children/adolescents with cancer, the survivors, their families, and the society as a whole.
It also spotlights the need for more equitable and better access to treatment and care for all children with cancer, everywhere.

This annual event was created in 2002 by Childhood Cancer International, a global network of
183 parent organizations, childhood cancer survivor associations, childhood cancer support groups, and cancer societies, in over 94 countries, across 5 continents.

The International Childhood Cancer Day is based on Childhood Cancer International’s (CCI) core belief that every child and adolescent with cancer deserves the best possible medical and psychosocial care, regardless of country of origin, race, financial status, or social class.

It is also anchored on the premise that childhood cancer deaths are avoidable, with timely and accurate diagnosis, availability, and access to quality essential medicines as well as proper treatment and care. 

On International Childhood Cancer Day, all members of Childhood Cancer International stand united to make childhood cancer a national and global child health priority to ensure there are adequate resources to meet the basic rights of children with cancer. We believe those basic rights for all children diagnosed with cancer include:

• The right to early and proper diagnosis

• The right to access life-saving essential medicines

• The right to appropriate and quality medical treatments, and

• The right to follow up care, services, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for survivors.

Furthermore, if a cure is not attainable, CCI stands by the right of the child to experience a pain-free death. While unfathomable in developed countries, the shocking reality for a majority of low-middle income nations is that children suffering from cancer will die excruciating deaths without any supportive care or pain management.

The story behind the Gold Ribbon;

Childhood cancer cure is considered a “modern day miracle” due to the significant increase in survival rates especially in developed, high income countries.
Childhood cancer is now the leading cause of non-communicable disease related death among children and adolescents in developed and developing countries. In some countries, deaths due to childhood cancer are more than the combined deaths from all types of childhood illnesses.

Due to lack of attention on development of less toxic drugs and targeted treatments, a large percentage of survivors of childhood cancer suffer life limiting conditions.

The Gold Ribbon Campaign is for the Heroes within our midst. The children and adolescents who bravely and courageously make an effort against cancer; 
the survivors who beat cancer; The families who fearlessly live with the realities of cancer and with the loss of a precious child; and, the volunteers, staff and medical practitioners who passionately serve and dedicate their time to the childhood cancer community.

In developing countries, mortality due to childhood cancer is attributed to several interrelated factors such as: lack of awareness and information on childhood cancer; delayed or wrong diagnosis; lack of access to quality cost-effective essential medicines and treatment; lack of access to trained healthcare providers.; and, weak health infrastructure.

On 15 Feb International childhood cancer day is also celebrated in Children’s hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Oncology unit management and our social worker/philanthropist Apa Farida manages to make it an event. A fun fair kind of arrangement is being done in hospital by her every year. All admitted and those who come for their chemo are invited with their parents and relatives to have awareness and enjoy a day.

Lots of prayers for the all the sick children and their families. Let’s pray that ICCD’s is successful in decreasing the childhood cancer globally. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal healthy life again. Aameen

Note: Content source ICCD