Every member of society should participate in World Childhood Cancer Day, to understand and support the challenges faced by children with cancer, survivors, and their families.

It is possible for some children to face this insidious disease without knowing what the real causes are that led to this infection.

So if you want to know what is childhood cancer?, what is World Childhood Cancer Day?, and what are the ways to participate in that day?, follow this article with me.

What is World Childhood Cancer Day?

The World Health Organization has designated February 15 of each year as World Childhood Cancer Day, which is a global campaign to contribute to the following: -

• Raising awareness of childhood cancer and its unique challenges.
• Strengthen support for children, affected adolescents, survivors, and their families.

Objectives of World Childhood Cancer Day

The main goal of that day is: -

• Eliminate all the pain and suffering experienced by children fighting cancer.
• Achieving a survival rate of at least 60% for all children with cancer worldwide by 2030.
• Reducing inequalities in childhood cancer care globally.
• Making a positive impact on the lives of children with cancer.
• That every child has the opportunity to receive the best treatment and care.

This day depends on community participation and support in addressing the difficult challenges related to childhood cancer, in order to save many children and give them new opportunities for life.

What is childhood cancer?

Childhood cancer is an uncontrollable division of abnormal cells, and some types of cancer may spread to other tissues near or far from the body.

Cancer can affect children from infants to fourteen years of age, and adolescents from fifteen to nineteen years of age.

Childhood cancer is less common than adult cancer, but when it occurs, it changes the lives of the affected children and their parents.

Childhood cancer can occur during fetal development, when cells divide incorrectly, which leads to DNA changes and genetic mutations.

The cure rate is more than 80% of children with cancer in high-income countries, but in middle- or low-income countries it is about 20%.

What are the common types of childhood cancer?

There are three groups of childhood cancer, including the following: –

• Leukemia, and lymphoma.
• Brain tumors.
• Solid tumors.

Blood cancer (leukemia)

Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, and the two main types include the following: –

Acute leukemia (ALL)

This type of cancer affects the blood and bone marrow, affecting the blood cells that help your child fight infections. Its symptoms include the following: –

1. Easy bleeding and bruising.
2. Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs, as a result of an enlarged liver or spleen.
3. Pale skin.
4. Skin rash in the form of red flat spots.
5. Fever for no apparent reason.
6. Weakness.
7. Feeling very tired.
8. Recurrent infections.
9. صعوبة في التنفس.
10. Pain in bones and joints.
11. Enlarged lymph nodes (in the neck, armpit, or groin).
12. Anorexia.
13. Night sweats.
14. صداع.
15. Blurred vision.
16. Nausea, vomiting.

Acute myelogenous leukemia

This type of cancer affects your child’s blood cells and platelets, and its symptoms include the following: –

• الدوخة.
• التعب.
• Night sweats.
• الحمى.
• Feeling cold.
• الصداع.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Wounds or ulcers that do not go away.
• Pain in the bones, back, or abdomen.

Lymphomas

He promises Lymphoma The most common type among teenagers, but can affect younger children, and this type affects the child's lymphatic system.

Brain tumors

Brain tumors are one of the most common types of pediatric cancer among children and adolescents. They can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), and their symptoms include the following: –

1. الصداع.
2. Seizures.
3. الغثيان.
4. القيء.
5. irritability.
6. Lethargy and sleepiness.
7. Changes in personality and mental activity.
8. Enlarged brain in infants whose skull bones have not fully fused.

Solid tumors

Solid tumors develop when cancer cells divide, multiply, and eventually aggregate to form clumps of cancer cells.

Children and teenagers can develop solid tumors all over their bodies.

There are many solid tumors common among children, such as: –

• Neuroma.
• Retinoblastoma.
• Bone cancer.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Symptoms of childhood cancer

The symptoms of childhood cancer are similar to the symptoms of everyday childhood illnesses, as many children suffer from headaches, stomach pain, or bruises, but if any symptom persists or becomes worse, you must go to the doctor immediately. You can حجز استشارتك الآن في Tumor Center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

Ways to participate in World Childhood Cancer Day

You can participate in World Childhood Cancer Day by doing the following: –

Promoting awareness and education

Learning about childhood cancer is an important starting point, so you should raise awareness by sharing information about the disease on your social media platforms.

Or you can share some stories of infected children, or survivors and their families, to illustrate children's resilience against this vile disease, and the impact that community support has on them.

Donate to treat children's cancer

Hospitals and non-profit organizations depend on the generosity of donors to:

•  To treat children with cancer.
• Investing in childhood cancer research.
• Providing advanced treatments for children.

So your support can make a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer, so you can volunteer through the following: –

• Visiting hospitals.
• Providing transportation.
• Supporting families of injured children.

Also know the symptoms Early bone cancer.

Supporting families suffering from childhood cancer

Supporting a family suffering from childhood cancer can make a big difference, as small acts of kindness can greatly reduce the burden on the family.

Therefore, you can provide assistance through the following: -

• Cooking meals.
• Providing care for children.
• Being with them, to listen to them.

Frequently asked questions about childhood cancer

Any family suffering from childhood cancer may ask many questions, such as: –

Does cancer affect children?

Yes, it is possible for some children to get cancer, but it is rare compared to adults.

In conclusion, I have now realized, dear reader, what is the importance of World Childhood Cancer Day? And how can I participate in that day?

Therefore, if you notice any of the above symptoms in your child, you must go to Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, due to the presence of the best specialists with extensive experience, to treat the different types of childhood cancer, and to treat some types of rare cancers.

Medical references 

Childhood Cancer – clevelandclinic

International Childhood Cancer Day – internationalchildhoodcancerday