World Childhood Cancer Day was proposed by Luxembourg in 2001 as an initiative of the International Children's Cancer Organization (CCI) to raise awareness about the challenges children face against this serious disease. The first commemoration of this date took place in 2002 by the CCI, which brings together 177 organizations of parents of children with cancer worldwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO), a UN agency, recognizes the importance of this date due to the severity of the disease and the shocking global statistics revealing that each year around 280,000 children aged 0 to 19 are diagnosed with cancer. According to the WHO, cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among children and adolescents worldwide.
In Mexico, cancer is the second leading cause of death among children aged 0 to 18, only surpassed by accidents, according to data from the country's health sector. Specifically, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children aged five to six years in Mexico. International Childhood Cancer Day seeks to raise awareness about the importance of timely symptom detection and ensuring access to necessary treatments.
Treatment of childhood cancer faces several challenges, one of the main ones being the disparity in cure rates between high- and low-income countries. It is crucial to continue promoting research, awareness, and equitable access to medical care to advance in the fight against childhood cancer.
