February 15: World Childhood Cancer Day

Childhood and adolescent cancer is a rare, life-threatening disease of the child. However, in high-income countries the 80% of children with cancer get well. It is not one disease but dozens of different forms. It differs from adult cancer and therefore requires specialized treatment and management.

There is no prevention in childhood cancer! However, early diagnosis and appropriate medical care lead to a cure for more children and adolescents. That is why it is important to have proper information and access to appropriate treatments.

As every year, Floga participates in the awareness-raising actions jointly organized by the Childhood Cancer International (CCI), the international body of parent and patient associations, and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP).

This year, we are focusing on the inequalities and diverse challenges that children and their families face around the world. In high-income countries the 80% of children with cancer get well, while the corresponding figure for low- and middle-income countries is only 30%. Even among European countries there are discrepancies in cure rates up to 20%. The discrepancies are due to not being diagnosed in time, but also to the difficulty of accessing appropriate treatment.

That is why we know very well the problems and difficulties faced by children with cancer and their families, as well as the shortcomings in Public Health. Our anxiety to do the best for our children and our need for access to treatments comparable to those in the rest of Europe and the USA, led to the establishment and continuation of the Flame project for a full 42 years. Today, we represent thousands of families throughout Greece and have established ourselves as a key support pillar for the operation of the Oncology Departments of the Pediatric Hospitals of Athens