Every year on 15 February, the world observes International Childhood Cancer Day, a global awareness day dedicated to children and adolescents affected by cancer. The day highlights the urgent need to improve early diagnosis, access to quality treatment, and long term support for young patients and their families.
Childhood cancer is a deeply challenging public health issue. While many childhood cancers are treatable, survival outcomes vary widely depending on where a child lives. At Orapuh, International Childhood Cancer Day reinforces our commitment to health education, research, and equitable care in oral and public health, with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable.
Childhood Cancer
Childhood cancer refers to cancers diagnosed in children and adolescents, typically between birth and nineteen years of age. Unlike adult cancers, childhood cancers are rarely linked to lifestyle factors. They often arise from genetic or developmental causes that are not preventable.
The most common types of childhood cancer include leukaemia, brain and central nervous system tumours, lymphomas, and solid tumours such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumour. With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, many children can survive and go on to live healthy and productive lives.
The Global Burden of Childhood Cancer
Each year, hundreds of thousands of children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. Survival rates exceed eighty percent in many high income countries. However, in low and middle income countries, where most children with cancer live, survival rates are often less than fifty percent.
These disparities are driven by delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialised care, shortages of trained health professionals, high treatment costs, and weak health systems. No child should die from a treatable cancer simply because of where they are born.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Early diagnosis is one of the most critical factors in improving childhood cancer outcomes. Many childhood cancers are curable when detected early, yet symptoms are often mistaken for common childhood illnesses.
Warning signs that require prompt medical attention include:
- Persistent fever or unexplained weight loss
- Unusual lumps or swelling
- Persistent pain or limping
- Frequent infections or unexplained bleeding
- Headaches with vomiting or vision changes
- Sudden changes in behaviour or school performance
Raising awareness among parents, teachers, and primary healthcare providers is essential for early detection and timely referral.
Access to Treatment and Quality Care
Effective treatment of childhood cancer requires coordinated, multidisciplinary care that includes accurate diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and supportive services. Treatment should be delivered in child friendly environments that minimise trauma and support emotional wellbeing.
In many settings, families face financial hardship, long travel distances, and treatment interruptions. Strengthening health systems, expanding universal health coverage, and supporting specialised paediatric oncology services are key to improving survival and quality of life.
Psychosocial Support for Children and Families
Childhood cancer affects not only the child but also the entire family. Emotional distress, social disruption, and financial strain are common challenges. Comprehensive care must therefore include psychosocial support, counselling, education continuity, and long term follow up for survivors.
Survivorship care is increasingly important as more children survive cancer. Long term monitoring helps address late effects of treatment and supports healthy development into adulthood.
Childhood Cancer as a Public Health Priority
Addressing childhood cancer is both a medical and ethical responsibility. It reflects a health system’s commitment to equity, child rights, and social justice. Integrating childhood cancer into national cancer control plans and child health strategies is essential for sustainable progress.
Public health approaches should focus on early diagnosis, referral pathways, workforce training, reliable medicine supply chains, and data collection through cancer registries. Community engagement and advocacy are also vital to reducing stigma and improving care seeking behaviour.
Oral Health Considerations in Childhood Cancer Care
Oral health plays an important role in childhood cancer treatment and recovery. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause oral complications such as mucositis, infections, and pain, which may interfere with nutrition and treatment adherence.
Integrating oral health assessment and care into paediatric oncology services improves comfort, reduces complications, and enhances overall wellbeing. Preventive oral health education for caregivers is an essential component of comprehensive care.
Research, Education, and Innovation
Research drives progress in childhood cancer care. Local and regional research helps identify barriers to diagnosis and treatment, evaluate interventions, and inform policy decisions. Education and training strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers to recognise symptoms and deliver quality care.
Innovative approaches, including telemedicine and digital health tools, offer opportunities to extend specialist expertise to underserved areas and support continuity of care.
At Orapuh, we believe that research communication, open access knowledge, and education can contribute to better health outcomes for children affected by cancer.
What You Can Do About Childhood Cancer
International Childhood Cancer Day calls on governments, institutions, professionals, and communities to work together to ensure that every child with cancer has a fair chance of survival.
Parents and caregivers can seek timely care and advocate for their children. Health professionals can commit to early recognition and compassionate care. Institutions can invest in training, research, and service delivery. Policymakers can prioritise equitable access to childhood cancer services.
At Orapuh, we stand in solidarity with children with cancer, survivors, families, and healthcare workers around the world. On International Childhood Cancer Day, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing knowledge, strengthening health systems, and promoting equity in oral and public health.
Every child deserves hope. Every child deserves care. And every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and strong.