Over 400,000 children worldwide develop cancer each year. If the disease is detected early enough, many of these children can be cured - 80% of children with cancer in the high income world survive. However, in low and middle income countries, survival rates can be as low as 10%, with many children dying without effective pain relief. A reason for this inequality is that many children remain undiagnosed, or are diagnosed too late to be cured, due to a shortage of trained doctors and nurses in-
Why are survival rates for children with cancer in the low and middle income world so low? A lack of awareness and understanding of childhood cancer and the inability local healthcare workers to spot early warning signs and symptoms. Misdiagnosis, late diagnosis or no diagnosis at all. Many families cannot afford the treatment, which is often not covered by local healthcare providers or insurance schemes.
Simple and cost-effective interventions can be used to address many of the challenges above. World Child Cancer helps to improve access to quality treatment and support for children with cancer and their families.
Our vision is a world where every child with cancer has equal access to the best treatment and care. Our mission is to improve diagnosis, access to treatment and quality of support for children with cancer, and their families, in the low and middle income world.
