September: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

1. Childhood cancer is the no. 1 cause of death by disease in children. 

2. “Almost 30% of anticancer medicines do not have age-appropriate formulations for children with cancer.” (SIOPE) 

3. “Each year in Europe, there are more than 35,000 new cases of cancer in children and adolescents and over 6000 young lives are lost to the disease.” (SIOPE) 

4. “Every year in Belgium, about 340 children (0-14 years) and 180 adolescents (15-19 years) are diagnosed with a malignancy.” (Belgian Cancer Registry) 

5. “In 2018, analyses from the ACCIS-project showed an annual increase in childhood cancer incidence in Europe between 1991 and 2010.” (Belgian Cancer Registry) 

See the latest publication from the Belgian Cancer Registry for more insights into childhood cancer in Belgium.  

As September begins, we focus on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the challenges of children and families dealing with childhood cancer. The golden ribbon is the symbol of this awareness, representing the strength of young patients and their families. This month offers hope for a future with better care and treatments for childhood cancer. Let us turn awareness into action and put our efforts into creating a world where these children can flourish. 

Childhood cancer is a rare disease. While In adults, the most common types of cancers are of the skin, breast, prostate, lung and colon; the most common types of cancers in children are those of the blood and bone marrow, lymph nodes, brain, muscles, kidneys and bone. 

As all paediatric cancers are rare diseases, investment and research in this domain is often not profitable for pharma companies given the lower number of patients, resulting in fewer innovative and effective treatments. Scientific progress is largely due to academic clinical trials which are not, or only partially, funded by pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, existing treatments are not always reimbursed for children. 

To confront this problem, the Belgian Association of Paediatric Haemato-Oncology (BSPHO) is looking for ways to give every child with cancer access to innovative research, better treatments and is fighting for better reimbursements for paediatric cancer treatments. 

You can learn more about childhood cancer here: 

• Childhood cancer types & possible treatments
• Clinical trials
• Long term survivors

Join us this September to make a lasting impact that goes far beyond these thirty days. 

• Support the BSPHO ‘To Cure & Beyond’ campaign: The fundraising campaign aims to raise awareness and collect funds so that children and young people with cancer can reap the benefits of scientific research.

• Spread Awareness: Amplify the message about childhood cancer. Here is a poster you can share on your social media page to raise awareness!