September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The main aim of this month is to create awareness of childhood cancer.
In South Africa one out of 408 children under the age of 16 might be diagnosed with cancer. According to the accepted population incident rate South Africa should be diagnosing around 2 500 children per annum but are only diagnosing between 1000 and 1050 new cases per annum. This can be attributed to lack of awareness of childhood cancer, myths and stigma associated with childhood cancer and lack of knowledge of the early warning signs of childhood cancer.
Around 55% of those diagnosed survive. In developed country the recovery rate is 80-90%. Overall during the last two decades childhood cancer has increased by 13%. In many cases children are being diagnosed too late and are presenting at paediatric oncology units at Stage 4, when treatment options become less effective.
Childhood cancers are diseases that require specialist paediatric treatment. For four decades their holistic approach has evolved to ensure children are diagnosed early, access paediatric oncologist care, and are supported throughout the lengthy treatment phase, which can last up to three years. CHOC also promotes early detection and plays a leading advocacy role.
Cancer treatment can take from 8 months to 3 years and should there be a relapse, can take many more years of treatment.
As a result, CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa initiated an Awareness Programme to disseminate the early warning signs that the South African Childhood Cancer Study Group drew up.
The objectives of the programme include ensuring that all children with cancer in South Africa are diagnosed as early possible and that the early warning signs of childhood cancer are well known in all parts of the health system (including primary healthcare clinics and all hospitals).
During September we honor:
- The children and teens who bravely and courageously fight cancer
- The survivors who beat cancer
- The parents and families who fearlessly live with the realities of cancer and with the loss of a precious child
- The volunteers, staff and medical teams who professionally serve and dedicate their time to the childhood cancer community.
About CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA
CHOCS Vision and role is that every child and teenager fighting cancer and their families, have access to the best treatment, support and care.
This they do through the various programs that they offer to make the journey for the family a little easier, these include accommodation, transport assistance, psychosocial counselling, practical support such as care bags, food parcels and bereavement support.
Programs
CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation aims to provide the best possible support for children with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders and their families. Beginning as a parent support parent group in 1979, these parents recognised the emotional, financial, and other hardships faced by parents and other family members, as well as children undergoing outpatient treatment. CHOC receives no government funding for its activities.
The organisation’s holistic approach includes:
- Social Workers provide emotional support in the hospital wards, from diagnosis onwards.
- Practical support: Accommodation: CHOC has 13 accommodation facilities throughout South Africa. In Gauteng South, their facilities are in Saxonwold, close to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, while they have two houses in Diepkloof situated close to the Paediatric Oncology Ward of Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital. A child undergoing treatment and a parent/caregiver stays free of charge during their cancer treatment.
- Financial Transport assistance: CHOC provides bus or taxi fares to patients and parents/caregivers to travel to and from hospital during treatment. This is to ensure that no child absconds treatment due to financial constraints.
- Care bags and basic nutritional support.
Without CHOC’s support many children – particularly those from low-income families, living far from treatment centres would not be able to access, or adhere to, the necessary but arduous treatment cycle, which can last over three years. CHOC also advocates on behalf of those whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer through awareness campaigns and lobbying.
It is at this moment that CHOC’s essential services are needed more than ever. They need to ensure that the children are safe, have a place to stay while attending treatment and that the parents and caregivers are relieved of the financial stress of having to provide food, protection, accommodation and support to their sick child and families. The result is that they are seeing an increased need and demand for their services.
For further information please contact Lizelle Denkema at 011 486 1212 or email her on lizelle@choc.org.za.
