Have a Heart for Children with Cancer
Imagine one of the Seven Wonders of the World – yes, our very own Table Mountain – all lit up in blue! It happened last year and was sensational! It’s happening again this year – on the eve before International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD), February 14, the night of St Valentine’s Day.
This stunning event is to create awareness about childhood cancer and the need for early detection and diagnosis by making people aware of the early warning signs.
In support of ICCD, we urge you to wear blue on February 15, or the days leading up to it, just as thousands of school-children will be doing throughout the country. Blue pants, blue shirts, blue suits, blue dresses, blue ribbons, anything blue… It will all help to spread the message.
In addition to wearing blue, take time out on February 15 to visit the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation website – www.choc.org.za – to find out about the early warning signs of childhood cancer. Knowing about these signs, and passing on your knowledge could well save a precious child’s life.
You can also give a one-off donation of just R30 to CHOC – simply SMS – Blue to 42220. To give further support to this vital mission, contact your nearest CHOC division to buy chocolates and wristbands.
Keeping more than hope alive
How rife is childhood cancer?
Sadly the incidence is growing. The American Cancer Society estimates that, globally, one in 408 children will be diagnosed before the age of 15 years and one in 285 before the age of 20. Gladly, through the advances made in treatment, childhood cancer is largely curable. In developed countries like the US, UK and Japan, eight or nine out of ten kids survive to live productive and meaningful lives.
The survival rate in the UK, for example, has increased from 10% 40 years ago to 90%. In contrast, the survival rate of the most common childhood cancers in South Africa is a poor 52,1%*. This, however, is far better than other developing countries because our children, thankfully, can be referred to paediatric oncology units at state-funded academic hospitals. Unfortunately the cancer in most of the children referred is already in advanced stages, which significantly reduces the chances of survival.
Early detection can dramatically change this scenario. The South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG) has developed a set of early warning signs for childhood cancer, which has been adopted by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology.
Leaflets detailing these early warning signs are available from CHOC as part of the organisation’s Awareness Programme, which includes training health care workers, traditional healers, and communities in detecting these vital early warning signs. To date CHOC has trained close on 5 000 people, in Gauteng and neighbouring provinces alone, which has led to a marked increase in referrals.
CHOC is the only organisation in South Africa that provides nationwide physical and psycho-social support to children with cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders – and their families! The organisation, which has a head office, eight regional offices and thirteen accommodation facilities, also supports the specialist treatment facilities in academic hospitals.
Support this International Childhood Cancer Day – Sunday, February 15. Have a heart for children with cancer.
For more information about CHOC, join the CHOC Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/CHOC-Childhood-Cancer-Foundation-SA/1519454698270658, visit the website at www.choc.org.za.
Or call 086 111 3500.
CHOC also has a Charity Shop in Johannesburg that welcomes donations of used goods. For more information contact the CHOC Charity Shop – 011 485-3164 or email – shop@choc.org.za.