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Every year on February 15, the world unites to observe International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD), a day dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer and showing unwavering support for children, adolescents, survivors, and their families. This day serves as a reminder that while tremendous progress has been made in treating childhood cancer, disparities in access to care persist, and more must be done to ensure every child has the opportunity to survive and thrive.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents worldwide. Each year, approximately 280,000 children between the ages of 0-19 are diagnosed with cancer globally.This devastating disease affects not only the lives of the young patients but also the emotional, physical, and financial well-being of their families.

In low- and middle-income countries, survival rates can be as low as 20%, compared to over 80% in high-income countries.This stark disparity calls for urgent action to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to the care they need.

Despite the challenges, the field of childhood cancer treatment has made remarkable strides. New therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, Immunotherapy, and Precision Medicine are revolutionizing cancer care and providing hope where once there was little. CAR T-cell therapy, for example, has shown incredible success in treating relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), one of the most common cancers among children.

The WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative, with its target goal of eliminating all pain and suffering for children fighting cancer, aims to increase the global survival rate to at least 60% by 2030. Achieving this ambitious goal would double the current cure rate and save one million children's lives over the next decade.

As we acknowledge the significant challenges, we must also celebrate the survivors. In high-income countries, the survival rate for childhood cancers is greater than 80%, and many children go on to live full, healthy lives. However, the journey does not end with remission. Many childhood cancer survivors face long-term health challenges as a result of the treatments they received, including secondary cancers, heart issues, and emotional trauma.

It is critical to provide ongoing care for these survivors to ensure that they continue to thrive long after their battle with cancer.

On this International Childhood Cancer Day, let us renew our commitment to making childhood cancer a global priority. Let us work together to create a world where every child diagnosed with cancer has access to the care, treatment, and support they need.

Dr. Radnyi Mande
MD DNB DM
Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist
MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre, Vileparle.