Celebrating Soleterre's 20th anniversary in Milan
However, even with the combined efforts of World Child Cancer and Soleterre, the gap in global cancer treatment continues to be wide and we are witnessing the concrete risk of this to be further widened by the current economic crisis. We need your help to close the childhood cancer gap now.
The fight against the global inequalities of childhood cancer care cannot be undertaken by just one organisation. World Child Cancer and Soleterre have been partners since 2021.
World Child Cancer were delighted to be recently invited to Milan to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Soleterre. Piera Freccero, World Child Cancer’s Director of Programmes, attended the event and gave a speech of her own.
Like World Child Cancer, Soleterre are combatting the sad truth of a cancer diagnosis being a death sentence within less fortunate families. Their program “Grande Contro il Cancro” (Great Against Cancer) is active in seven countries and devoted to tackling cancer through improving diagnosis and medical therapy, thereby increasing the chances of curing childhood cancer.
It remains important to remember that most childhood cancers are curable: survival rates in high-income countries such as the UK and USA regularly top 80%, whereas this number will fall to 10% in low- and middle-income countries. Over 1,000 young lives are lost to cancer every single day. Our work demonstrates that many of these deaths are avoidable.
This difference is so stark due to various reasons. As awareness of symptoms is low, the opportunity for early diagnosis is missed. Access to care is limited as often this is only available in specialists’ hospitals. Hospital referrals are delayed and there are not enough health workers in these countries with the specialist skills and knowledge required to successfully treat childhood cancer. Treatment can be incredibly expensive and many families cannot afford the care their child needs.
World Child Cancer improves the accessibility of childhood cancer services in a number of ways, namely through our four pillars: improving treatment, family support, early diagnosis, and advocacy. This holistic approach has proven to be cost–effective and efficient; we have seen a marked improvement of survival rates and quality of care in countries such as Ghana or Nepal.
However, even with the combined efforts of World Child Cancer and Soleterre, the gap in global cancer treatment continues to be wide and we are witnessing the concrete risk of this to be further widened by the current economic crisis. We need your help to close the childhood cancer gap now.
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Naa’s Story
We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.
Read moreJoseph’s update
We first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.
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Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
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