Around 150 children were last year sent abroad for medical treatment that is not currently offered in Malta, Health Minister Chris Fearne said today.
He was speaking at a conference titled 'An Unexpected Journey: Tackling the Impact of Cancer on Children', which was organized by the National Cancer Platform Association with the collaboration of the Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation Malta. The conference was held ahead of World Cancer Day, which falls on Sunday.
Fearne, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said cancer in children was rare in Malta, making it very hard to find top specialists in each type of the disease.
He said Mater Dei Hospital is working on affiliating itself more closely with the European reference network, which helps professionals and centres of expertise in different countries to share knowledge.
Also addressing the conference, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca spoke about the importance of information sharing between different entities and countries.
"From my own experiences working with the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, I have met with increasing numbers of individuals and families who require access to such education and urgent treatments, in order to address their cancer concerns. These have included a number of children."
The President referred to studies on the social habits of the Maltese, conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund, which unfortunately suggest that higher levels of obesity, and lower levels of physical activity all represent troubling risk factors for developing certain cancers, within our population.
"Children are not exempt from such risks, although the kinds of cancers that affect children, both in Malta but also in a European and global context, are of particular types.
While cancer is relatively rare in childhood, it does contribute considerably to childhood mortality, and can have negative effects which surface later in a survivor's life. The disease comes in multiple subtypes, and represents both a life threatening condition, and a major public health issue.
According to data presented by the World Health Organisation, childhood cancers represent between 0.5% and 4.6% of all cancers.
The pattern of cancer in childhood differs considerably from those among people of all other ages. In general, in Malta as well as in other parts of the world, leukaemia constitutes about a third of all cancer in childhood.
The other most common malignancies are lymphomas and tumours of the central nervous system."
While most childhood cancer initially presents itself with nonspecific signs and symptoms, the President said, children in high-income countries, who are usually under the close watch of their parents and medical authorities, are more likely to have cancer detected early.
In low-resourced countries, however, there are various barriers to early detection. These include poor access to health services and inadequate diagnostic facilities. In high-income countries, approximately 80% of children with cancer survive five years or more after the diagnosis of cancer.
These improving outcomes result in a growing population of longterm survivors, who need follow-up treatment and care.
"We must therefore continue cooperating, to share life-saving knowledge at a European level, and beyond."
The President concluded by encouraging national and European authorities, and civil society activists, to endorse the global Gold Ribbon campaign for paediatric cancer.
"In this way we shall be raising much-needed visibility in this area, by showing our support for the fight against childhood cancer. We must do all that we can to inspire one another, and to sow seeds of hope in the lives of children and young people with cancer; in the lives of the survivors of childhood cancer; and amongst their families. Children and families who are living with cancer are heroes within our communities, as are the volunteers in our NGOs, the staff members, and the medical professionals who passionately support and dedicate their careers to supporting the childhood cancer community.
It is only by working together, by listening to one another, and by taking practical actions, in synergy with each other, that we can effectively respond to the complex and multifaceted demands of childhood cancer treatment, care, and research. Let us continue to do all that we can, to promote the holistic wellbeing of our families and our communities, especially amongst the most vulnerable members of our society."
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2GEScyd
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