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The
incidence of childhood cancer is about 1 in every 600 children.
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It is
estimated that in South Africa only half of the children are diagnosed
and reach a treatment centre in time.
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The good
news is that if diagnosed early and treated correctly, the majority
of children (about 70%) can be cured.
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The cancers that occur in childhood are generally different to
those of adults and most often occur in developing cells, like bone
marrow, blood, kidneys and tissues of the nervous system
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The most common childhood cancer is leukaemia, followed by tumours
of the brain, and by a wide variety of other tumours.
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Generally childhood cancer is treated with chemotherapy, surgery,
or radiation, and in some cases a combination of these treatments is used.
In certain situations, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation is done.
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Life threatening blood disorders include: aplastic anaemia,
thalassaemia and ITP.
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Childhood cancers are diseases requiring specialist treatment at a centre
where there is expertise in the management and care. In South Africa, as
in most developed countries, these specialist units are linked to the
major academic hospitals.
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Travelling from home to attend these clinics for treatment adds another
dimension of practical and emotional difficulty to an already overwhelming
situation.
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Childhood Cancer in South Africa
There are about 700 children
diagnosed with cancer each year in South Africa.
However, given the rates that are found in other countries, it is believed
that at least half of the children with cancer in the country are never
diagnosed, and thus receive no treatment.
In addition, many children are diagnosed too late, with an advanced stage
of cancer, for treatment to have a good chance of success.
Taking these two factors together, it is estimated that there are at least
600 children in South Africa who now die each year with cancer, but who
would survive if they were diagnosed early enough and treated properly. |
